Lingayat religious issue not created by us: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah to WION

With the Karnataka elections just around the corner, chief minister Siddaramaiah is locked in a tight triangular contest with the BJP and the JD-S.

Siddaramaiah says the Congress will come to power in Karnataka, paving the way for his party’s revival in the rest of the country.

He spoke to WION on a plethora of issue ranging from the Lingayats to a separate state flag for Karnataka to Bengaluru's dying lakes. Siddaramaiah's entire interview to WION follows:

Q: What makes you so confident that Congress can buck the trend of Karnataka not giving a repeat term to any government?

A: We have given good governance. Law and order is much better than previous governments. Lot of investments have come to Karnataka which is far better than other states. So, we have done well on many fronts.

Q: How have schemes like Indira Canteen and Anna Bhagya done?

A: Four crore people of Karnataka have benefitted from Anna Bhagya scheme. Seven kg of rice per head is being given free of cost. We are the only government distributing rice free of cost. We are also giving five rupees subsidy per litre to milk farmers. We are giving loans to farmers without interest up to three lakh. Certain categories of loans have been waived. We are giving milk to 1.2 crore schoolgoing children. We have taken up a number of welfare schemes to help poor. Similar support is also being extended in the education sector. We have also provided laptops. This budget, I announced that girl students will be given free education and also free bus pass to students coming to schools.

Q: What have you done in the agriculture sector and secondly, there was a lot of acrimony between you and the Centre over the issue of fund allocation?

A: Centre provided us money under norms. We were facing unprecedented drought but still they gave us funds according to the norms. Centre did not provide us additional funds. I even requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked him to waive the loans but prime minister did not agree.

Q: Are you saying that Karnataka was discriminated against?

Q: You had strong issues pertaining to the 15th Finance Commission?

A: Population cannot be a criteria for fund. UP and Bihar have not implemented family programme and they are getting more money. We have implemented it and we are ending up getting less money. It is not fair.

Q: Why did you shift your seat?

A: Two years back, my son was looking after the constituency and I had announced that I’m not going to fight the elections. My son passed away last year and my second son started looking after the constituency. Now people want him to contest. Chamundeshwari was my old constituency. I have successfully contested elections from the seat. I have been in touch with the people. It is a neighbouring constituency.

Q: The BJP and JD-S are happy as they feel they can tie the chief minister down to a single seat?

A: They are living in an illusion. They cannot tie me down to a seat. They are trying to defeat me. BJP and JD-S were together in a coalition. I contested as an independent when Kumaraswamy was the Chief Minister and Yeddyurappa was the deputy CM. Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy sat there for days. Even then, I got elected.

Q: Are you worried about the infighting which has erupted post ticket distribution in the Congress?

Q: Do you feel that the southern perspective of a strong cultural identity of a state does not match with the northern experience of a Union?

A: The states were recognised on the basis of languages and it should remain supreme in each state. We are in federal structure and we want our language to be respected. Regional languages should reign supreme. Likewise, Lingayat religious issue was not created by us.

It was established by Basvanna in 12th century. The community wants a separate tag. All the representatives of the community met me two years ago. They said that Veerashaivas and Lingayats are separate. I referred the matter to the state Minority Commission. The Minority Commission, in turn, constituted an expert committee under a high court judge whose recommendation was accepted by us and which we forwarded to the Centre.

Q: The BJP says this is divide and rule...

A: This proposal also existed during BJP’s regime. We did not initiate it. In this context, they had met both Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi.

Q: What about the flag?

A: Is there a provision that states should not have own flag? In the United States, every state has its own flag so why not Karnataka. The national flag is flying above the state flag. We can have a state flag.

Q: Has Siddaramaiah become a symbol of regional pride?

A: I’m proud to say that I’m a Kannadiga and am proud to be a symbol of Kannadiga pride.

Q: Congress is organisationally weak and Modi, on the other hand, has the capacity to turn around an election? Can Modi do a Gujarat in Karnataka?

A: Karnataka cannot be compared with Gujarat. BJP was in power in Gujarat. Our party structure was not strong in Gujarat. Compared to previous elections, our performance was good in Gujarat. BJP cannot play a communal card in the state. People like secularism here and they will not tolerate communal card.

Q: Is Karnataka going to be an antidote to the BJP’s cultural nationalism?

A: Karnataka is being looked at by the entire country. Congress will come to power and will prove to be a stepping stone for the national politics. Modi’s government has failed. They have not fulfilled a single promise to the people of Karnataka. Look what Andhra Pradesh CM Chandra Babu Nadu is saying. Modi could not even keep the promise to the people of Andhra Pradesh.

Q: Is the Third Front a good idea for the Congress?

A: Congress and all like-minded parties should come together and fight communal elements and Congress must take a leading role.

Q: Is this election about Siddaramaiah vs Modi or Siddaramaiah vs Yeddyurappa?

A: This election is about me and Yeddyurappa. This election is about the people of Karnataka. People have to choose between me and Yeddyurappa and not Modi.

Q: I think you forgot about the JD-S. Surveys have shown strong Vokaligga consolidation for the JD-S?

A: JD-S is a regional party confined to six to seven districts in southern Karnataka. Their presence is meagre in the northern part of the state. They cannot win more than 20 to 25 seats.

Q: There was a time when Kumaraswamy went on to become the chief minister?

A: Kumaraswamy is an illusion. He is thinking of a hung assembly where he thinks that he will get to play the role of a kingmaker. This situation will not arise at all. Congress party is going to form the government in Karnataka.

Q: Don’t you think that the JD-S has been able to use the Cauvery issue?

A: How will it help JD-S? There was a tribunal order and the Karnataka government went in for appeal against it to the Supreme Court. The judgement of the tribunal was modified. 14.75 TMC of water was additionally allotted to us. JD-S cannot take advantage of this issue. People of Karnataka were happy with the Cauvery judgement.

Q: So the JD-S is not a player in the state?

A: They are not our main rival. In thenorth, we fight BJP and in south Karnataka, JD-S.

Q: What has your administration done to curb the violence rocking coastal Karnataka?

A: BJP is trying to mislead people. Law and Order situation is good in the coastal areas. They claim that 24 BJP workers have been killed by SDPI. It is not correct. Yes, 12 BJP workers have died and rest belong to other groups. It is claimed that all of them are BJP workers which is not true. Some of them were not even communal clashes.

Q: Rationalists have been targeted in your state? What have you done to protect them?

A: It is not only in Karnataka. People were also targeted in Maharashtra. The investigation is going on. They are organised criminals. In Gauri Lankesh’s case, there is considerable progress. Kalburgi’s case has already been referred to the CBI.

Q: The dying lakes of Bengaluru get a lot of global attention. What have you done to save them and what do you intend to do?

A: We have to provide world-class infrastructure to Bengaluru. All the lakes have to be developed and beautified. We need to tackle the garbage problem including congestion. These are the urgent urban issues which we intend to solve if we come to power again.

Q: What should the Congress do to revive itself nationally? What is your advice to Rahul Gandhi?

A: Electoral victory in Karnataka will revive the Congress Party nationally. We will capture power in the Centre. Modi’s popularity is declining quickly. They will not win 2019 elections. BJP will not make it to the Centre again. Like-minded parties must come together to defeat BJP for Lok Sabha elections.