JD(S) manifesto underlines need to strengthen ‘sound secular principles’

Reiterating its commitment to protect the State’s land, border, water and language issues, the Janata Dal (Secular) has said there is a need to establish a government that is based on “sound secular principles”, all of which have been “failed” by the two national parties.

In its ‘Peoples manifesto’, for development of 20 broadly divided sectors, released here on Monday, the party said there is a need to re-establish secular credentials in the State.

“In the last 10 years, secular credentials in the country, including Karnataka, have been weakened. One party is propagating Hindutva majoritarian theory without understating inclusiveness,” says the manifesto. Interestingly, the party has not named the Bharatiya Janata Party while speaking about the Hindutva majoritarian narrative.

Vote bank politics

However, criticising the Congress for promoting Ahinda for vote bank politics, it has said the party has neglected all other communities. The party has gone against Supreme Court orders in this connection, and it has neglected development of other communities. The Congress is also responsible for dividing Lingayats on religious tag issues, and it looks like political killings in Bengaluru are common and Congress government has failed to take any action.

While the actions of the two parties have led to weakening of the State plurality, there is a need to have a pro-people government that is based on ideological commitment.

In his foreword, party national president H.D. Deve Gowda has said that the main aim of the JD(S) is to build the State on principles of secularism, equality and inclusiveness, while former Chief Minister and party State president H.D. Kumaraswamy has said that development would be the priority for the party.