Sir — This refers to the report, “I know pain of running coalition, K’taka CM breaks down” (July 16). It was amusing to watch Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy doing what he is best at: Weep like a school kid while addressing his party men at a function where they wanted to felicitate him. HDK said with tears rolling down his cheeks, “While you may be happy thinking that Anna or Thamma (brother) has become the Chief Minister, let me tell you that I’m not happy. I’m swallowing my pain, which is nothing more than drinking poison, without sharing it. I am not happy with the situation”.
Remember, earlier too, Kumaraswamy had quipped about his unhappiness. The media has revealed that the Congress has been mounting pressure on Kumaraswamy to roll back the hike in petrol and diesel and there has been widespread criticism from all sections of the Congress that has taken its toll on Kumaraswamy who needs money desperately to fulfil his poll promise on waiver of farm loans.
It is also a well-known fact that Kumaraswamy’s loan waiver was bad economics as there seems to be no money in the treasury to fulfil his poll promise. He has to tax the people which the Congress is opposed to. The alliance Government in Karnataka lacks people’s mandate. That is what the BJP has been saying all along. Nobody forced HDK to become the Chief Minister. The Congress offered him the chief ministerial post for selfish reasons and he accepted the offer for equally selfish reasons. He and his father, HD Deve Gowda are solely responsible for the current situation.