Bengaluru: Janata Dal(S) supremo , H.D. Deve Gowda took strong objection on Wednesday to claims that his party was dynastic and caste-based. Addressing a seminar organised by the JD(S) Legal Cell on role of regional politics in a federal system, he asserted he was neither dynastic nor casteist.
“Many people say JD(S) is promoting dynastic rule. But Mr Kumaraswamy (his son) was making movies before they (leaders who are now party rebels) got him into politics. If I believed in dynastic rule, I would have myself encouraged him to join politics. And I made Mr Puttaswamy Gowda, Holenarasipura MLA before contesting elections,'' he said.
Accusing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of making false claims about the JD(S), he added, “ I had advised Mr Siddaramiah not to become leader of a particular community. But now he says he is a AHINDA leader and accuses me of resorting to caste- based politics. But this is completely untrue.”
Declaring that he would bring the JD(S) to power in the next elections in the state, he challenged Mr Siddaramaiah to “finish” the party as he had threatened to. “He has said he will finish JD(S), but I will see how he does this!” he declared.
As for the eight rebels in the party, he said he could not forgive them.“I will take a tough stand and proceed. I have been fighting all my life and my patience is running out,” he maintained.
