K’taka township row: JD (S) threatens protest at Rahul Gandhi’s residence over attacks on Kumaraswamy’s family

New Delhi/Bengaluru, June 26 (IANS) The Janata Dal (Secular) (JD-S) on Thursday warned the Congress against continuing its alleged poster campaign targeting the family of Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, saying the party would be forced to respond with similar protests outside the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi’s residence and the party headquarters in New Delhi.

Speaking to reporters in the national capital, Greater Bengaluru JD(S) President and former legislator H.M. Ramesh Gowda accused the Congress of resorting to a “poster culture” aimed at tarnishing the personal image of Kumaraswamy and his family in an attempt to divert attention from the ongoing agitation against the proposed Bidadi Township project.

“If Congress leaders continue to put up malicious posters against Kumaraswamy’s family, we too will be compelled to launch a poster campaign outside LoP Rahul Gandhi’s residence and the Congress party office in New Delhi,” he said.

The JD(S) leader alleged that Congress workers had recently launched a campaign to put up posters targeting Kumaraswamy. He described the practice as evidence of the party’s “moral decline” and “political culture”.

Ramesh Gowda claimed that JD(S) workers were angered by the development and had proposed carrying out a counter-campaign in Delhi, highlighting alleged corruption and irregularities involving Congress leaders. However, he said Kumaraswamy personally intervened and persuaded party workers not to pursue such actions.

“Our leader told workers that such a culture should not enter our party. He advised them against responding in the same manner, despite their anger,” Ramesh Gowda said.

He alleged that the Congress government was attempting to suppress and divert the farmers’ agitation against the proposed Bidadi Township project by launching personal attacks on Kumaraswamy and his family.

“We are fighting for the rights of Bidadi farmers. Instead of addressing their concerns, the Congress government is trying to derail the movement through a campaign of personal vilification,” he alleged.

Ramesh Gowda further urged the Karnataka government to withdraw the Bidadi Township project, claiming that the acquisition of agricultural land would adversely affect farmers and could trigger widespread public resentment.

“The government is trying to build a township on the livelihoods of farmers. If the project proceeds, it could have serious political consequences for the ruling party,” he said.

Criticising the Congress for what he described as an insensitive approach towards the farmers’ movement, he warned that public anger was growing and that the government should not underestimate the strength of the agitation.

He also questioned the Congress party’s use of posters despite its long political history, saying the people of Karnataka were expressing displeasure over such tactics.

“The Congress should understand the sentiments of the people and refrain from such activities. Our workers are angry, but our leadership has exercised restraint. The ruling party should not mistake that restraint for weakness,” he added.

The remarks come amid an intensifying political confrontation between the ruling Congress government and opposition parties over the controversial Bidadi Township project near Bengaluru.

–IANS

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