Deve Gowda said that during his one-and-half-year tenure as chief minister and 10-month stint as prime minister, he ensured that there was no violence of any sort. DH file photo
Janata Dal (Secular) state president and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy will take a padayatra from Mangaluru to Kalladka in Bantwal taluk (Dakshina Kannada district) on July 15.
Addressing a press meet here on Wednesday, JD(S) national president and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda said that the padayatra was not for any political gain. Leaders and members of all parties and religious heads can participate in the march.
“I am 85 now and still I take part in the padayatra. I will walk as far as possible. The intention is to create awareness against violence. Anybody who wishes betterment of society can participate,” Deve Gowda said.
Deve Gowda said that during his one-and-half-year tenure as chief minister and 10-month stint as prime minister, he ensured that there was no violence of any sort.
“For the first time in the country, I announced reservation for the Muslim community when I was the chief minister. Organisations such as RSS and Bajrang Dal existed even then. But I ensured that no violence erupted. However, I don’t want to blame anybody,” he clarified.
Cauvery row
In reply to a query on the final hearing of Cauvery river water sharing issue, Gowda said that the agreements made in 1892 and 1924 have lost their validity. The hearing may take another two weeks as the neighbouring states may be allowed to express their opinions, he said.
“We will wait and see what the Supreme Court decides over the issue. It is not good to express doubts before that. We hope that the injustice meted out to the state would be set right. It is not correct to speak or speculate on the issue now,” he said.