‘We do not plant seeds of caste, religion’: Deve Gowda appeals for son, names Tipu among the state’s greats

The party — led by Gowda’s son and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and other family members such as son H D Revanna and grandsons — made arrangements so that the former PM could get up on the stage and greet supporters. Despite the talk of his failing health, Deve Gowda was lucid and clear when he read out his message on the stage.

“We do not plant the seeds of caste and religion or divide society for our growth. The British did this in the pre-Independence period. Some parties have continued doing this in the subsequent decades. In recent days, I have been seeing many such developments,” he said.

“Our party stands on the principles of hard work and labour. I am the son of a farmer. Our supporters are sons of farmers. We are people who live by the fruits of our labour. We toil in the fields to feed ourselves. We do not stand on false pretence, facades, and drama to rise in social standing,” Deve Gowda said, adding, “Ours is a country built by many saints, sages, and Mahatma Gandhi. The soul of the country is different. Lies may survive for a while but only the truth will continue to live forever. The people who stand by our party are those who work to feed themselves and they are aware of this truth is what I believe.”

The former PM said he taught his sons and party leaders to walk on the path of hard work and labour to win people’s support. “In my seven decades of political life, I have never thrown mud on the tears of people. I have placed a clear idea of my programmes before the people to seek votes. I have tried to implement the programmes when I have been given power,” he said.

Gowda added, “I have been in power for very few years. You can count them on your fingers. I have not seen the comforts of power but I swear on God that I have used the time I have been given in power to work for the welfare of people. I have tried to teach my party leaders and my children these things.”

Amid reports of infighting in his family over contests in some seats, the JD(S) president said, “If they walk on the same path then people will not abandon them. If they step away from the path of hard work the people know how to teach them a lesson.”

Deve Gowda said the JD(S) was seeking votes based on its programmes and not on divisive issues such as caste and religion. The former PM said he had never run after publicity in his life and any recognition he had received had come on its own.

“I have worked for all sections of society in my life. My work for farmers is recognised even today. In distant Punjab, they have named a variety of rice after me. They have given my name to the rice they eat. After this kind of honour, I do not need any other honour,” he said. “I have never run after publicity. I have not spent money on it. I have not stooped to the level of claiming the works of others. I have worked without thinking about the results as advised in the Bhagavad Gita. I am a Kannadiga and am proud of the work I have done for the nation.”

Gowda said, “I was born in the land where great people like Basavanna, Kempegowda, Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, Sir M Visveswaraya, Tipu Sultan, Kanakadasa, Purandaradasa, Kuvempu, and others were born, and have the satisfaction of lighting a small lamp for the whole world to see.”

The former PM’s health has been up and down since the start of this year. He showed signs of recovery last September after nearly two months. He made an appearance at a JD(S) Janata Mitra event in October but subsequently withdrew again from active public life.

He dwelled on his health Sunday. “My health has been seeing ups and downs in recent times. I was worried whether I would have the strength to come and stand before you and I was worried whether God would allow me to see you with my own eyes. However, the Almighty has given me enough strength today to come before you and that means there is some divine intention is what I believe.”

The former CM, who is spiritual, said, “I am a part of the game of the almighty and you are a part of my strength. The divine intention and the convention of party workers suggest that our party will achieve something major in the coming elections. I think this is a signal of us getting more opportunities to serve the public.”

He added, “Kumaraswamy has travelled around the state and tried to rally support for the party by ignoring his health. You must stand with him. I have been concerned that my health will not allow me to see you standing by him. I have been praying to God that I should be able to attend at least one of the rallies (Pancharathna rallies). God has listened to my prayers and brought me before you today.”

The JD(S) is a key player in the three-way battle in the coming Assembly polls. Winning even a small number of 25 to 30 seats is expected to give the JD(S) leverage if the BJP and the Congress fail to obtain a clear verdict to control the 224-member Assembly where the simple majority is 113 seats. The battle in several southern districts of Karnataka is essentially between the JD(S) and the Congress, with the BJP yet to establish any base in the Vokkaliga belt.

The BJP has been trying a lot of exercises such as the creation of mythical Vokkaliga heroes and allotting Muslim quotas in the backward class category of reservations — facilitated by Deve Gowda in 1994 — to the Vokkaliga community.