The Congress party has long spoken about democracy and painted itself as the upholders of democracy. However, in Karnataka, the Congress-JDS government has proven time and again that democracy is a tool by which they can usurp power and that, respect for the electorate and the people of Karnataka is sorely missing in their politicians.
The Karnataka legislative assembly elections which were held in May 2018, had seen BJP emerging as the single largest party securing 104 seats. Congress in its desperation to retain power had then gone into an ‘opportunistic alliance’ with the JD(s) and artfully offered the Chief Minister post to the JD(s) which was incontrovertibly an insult to the Karnataka’s people’s mandate who had clearly not wished to see a JD(s) candidate as their CM, considering the party had managed to secure an insignificant 37 seats out of the total of 224 seats.
The BJP chief ministerial candidate B.S. Yeddyurappa had also accused the Congress of trying to subvert the popular mandate and come back to power through the back door by offering support to JDS to form the government.
Congress in its craving to form the government in Karnataka had further committed a grave mistake by playing the Veerashaiva-Lingayat card, trying to divide people on the basis of religion, to garner votes in the elections. Essentially, Congress, which prides itself on being a “secular” party has never respected Hindus or even its electorate in general. In Karnataka, they not only divided Hindus but also joined hands with PFI, a radical Islamist outfit just to sit on the seat of power.
Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, the Chief Minister, who was actually forced, by the Congress, on the people of Karnataka, had also left no stone unturned to outrage the public of Karnataka since he and his party did not get an absolute majority, which meant that he and his party were rejected by the electorate.
“Mine is not an independent government. I had requested the people to give me a mandate that prevents me from succumbing to any pressure other than you. But today I am at the mercy of the Congress. I am not under the pressure of the 6.5 crore people of the state,” Kumaraswamy said.
Upholding the Congress culture, the Congress Neta’s too, have been often seen displaying their insensitivity towards commoners. Recently a video surfaced where Congress senior leader and Karnataka Revenue Minister, RV Deshpande was caught on camera after he was filmed throwing sports kits from a stage at national, state and district level athletes at a function where they were supposed to be felicitated.
The video showing the apparent high-handedness of the minister has gone viral on social media, with several netizens criticising the minister for his attitude.
This shallow display of loftiness seems to have become a habitude with the Congress-JD(s) members after parties have come together in its desperation to form the government in Karnataka. Earlier too, in a blatant show of insensitivity, Karnataka CM’s brother was caught on camera ‘throwing’ relief packages to flood victims.
It was reported that some of the people declined to eat the biscuits which were thrown at them, while some others ate the biscuit packets as they were hungry and desperate. The victims who have lost their houses and belongings were expecting massive help from the state machinery and the elected representatives. This arrogant behaviour from the Minister has disappointed the flood victims.
The JDS-Congress government in Karnataka has repeatedly insulted its own electorate and the citizens of Karnataka. Only time will tell how the citizens respond to a government that seems to respect its people too much.