Mangaluru: Although claiming that “many friends” were preparing to return to the JD(S), party supremo H.D. Deve Gowda maintained on Saturday that he had no clue as yet if Congress leaders Srinivas Prasad and Ambareesh were among them.
Speaking to reporters in Mangaluru, he said in response to a query on the possibility of the two joining JD(S), “Leaders like Ambareesh and Srinivas Prasad were with us. But I will not pressure anybody to join JD(S). There is speculation about this in the media. But we don’t know what they are considering. I welcome anybody who wants to work for the growth of the party.”
Also, asserting that he was not inclined to poaching leaders from other parties, he said, “I will not force anybody to join JD(S). I do not want to become strong by weakening others.” But the former PM said he was confident of taking his party to greater heights even in regions like DK where it had little base and come to power in the state in the next assembly poll. “We will contest all 224 constituencies,” he declared.
Coming down hard on the Uniform Civil Code proposed by the Centre, he said, “Is it necessary when there are many other important things that need government’s attention? Although over 65 per cent of people are dependent on agriculture, what has been done for them? India is a country of many religions, beliefs and customs. What is the need to interfere? I was also Prime Minister for 10 months and it is not an easy job.”
