Third force a must to fight BJP, Cong.(I): Deve Gowda

By Our Staff Correspondent

DAVANGERE, JAN. 4. The former Prime Minister, Mr. H.D.Deve Gowda, said today that the formation of a third force was very essential considering the present political scenario and to fight against the BJP at the Centre and the Congress(I) in the State.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Gowda said that the BJP- led NDA Government was following an ``unscientific'' economic policy.

Referring to the statements of some BJP leaders that a Ram temple would be built at the disputed site in Ayodhya, he alleged that the Vajpayee Government attempted to divide the country on religious basis. There would be unrest all over the country if an attempt was made to build a Ram temple at the disputed site, he added.

On the hike in power tariff in the State, Mr. Gowda questioned whether the Centre and the State Government had taken the people and the Opposition parties for granted.

Mr. Gowda said that he had to become Prime Minister owing to some ``sudden political developments'' at that time. He did not want to become Chief Minister again as he had reached the peak in politics. So there was no need to mistake his genuine concern for building a third force against the Congress(I) and the BJP for something else. He was ready to work as an ordinary worker of the party, he added.

He said if the merger of the Janata Dal factions took place then it would emerge stronger than the BJP and the Congress(I).

The former Prime Minister said that the former Chief Minister, J.H. Patel, who had described the Congress(I) as `cancer' and the BJP as `curse', had associated himself with the National Democratic Alliance owing to certain compulsions. But after sometime, Patel realised his mistake and had tried to bring together the Janata Dal factions.

On whether a deadline would be fixed for the JD(U) to withdraw support to the NDA Government if the merger took place, Mr. Gowda said that the leaders of that faction would realise that it was not fair to be with the NDA after the merger, and there was no need for any deadline. It was too early to discuss such issues as the two factions had to take decision on coming together, he added.

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Section  : Southern States
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