Congress joined hands with anti-nationals to launch protests against BJP at Centre, alleges Chalavadi Narayanaswamy

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, addressing a press conference in Shivamogga on Thursday.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, on Thursday alleged that the Congress had taken to the streets in alliance with anti-national forces in a bid to unseat the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre.

Addressing a press conference in Shivamogga, Mr. Narayanaswamy said the Congress had been stoking unrest by raising non-issues. “First, it came up with the Gen-Z agitation and raised the NEET issue. Later, it raised the SIR issue, though there were no irregularities in the process. If it had any objections, it could have approached the court. Instead, the party has been misleading the youth,” he said.

He said the Congress was attempting to create an Emergency-like situation through a series of protests. The Centre, he added, would never repeat the mistakes committed by the Congress in 1975.

“Regime change can happen only when the people decide and vote against the ruling party. They may do so in the next election if they are fed up with the present government and unhappy with the financial situation. But regime change does not happen through protests on the streets,” he said.

Mr. Narayanaswamy also alleged that the State government had failed to respond adequately to the drought and that farmers had not received fair relief. “While responding to the problems of sugarcane growers, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar openly admitted that his pockets were empty. When we alleged during the Legislature session that the State government had gone bankrupt, he refused to accept it. Now he has admitted it,” he said.

Responding to a question on the demand to include the law enhancing reservation in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, he said there was no need for it. “In several States, reservation beyond 50% is in practice without the support of the Ninth Schedule. In Karnataka, the State government failed to defend its case in the High Court. If we come to power, we will ensure that Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes get due justice,” he said.

Shivamogga District BJP president N.K. Jagadish, MLC Dhananjay Sarji and others were present.