Within hours of those incidents, (home minister V.S.) Acharya and I visited those places. Culprits have been booked and the law will take its course. The issue has been entrusted to a commission and the process of finding out truth is in progress. I want to assure the minority community brothers and sisters that they are safe in the state and complete protection will be provided.
With one in six BJP member of Parliament hailing from Karnataka, do you aspire for a national role in a post–Advani era?
Even when Atalji (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) and Advaniji (L.K. Advani) invited me to join the government in 1999 as a senior Union minister, I demurred. I have many more things to do at the state level over the next four years... My focus right now is to strive for the welfare of the people of Karnataka. However, as a disciplined soldier of the party, if required, I will work at the national level too.
You have complained of discrimination in the past from the Centre. You met the Prime Minister last week. Have those issues been sorted out?
Cooperation, and not confrontation, is my government’s mantra. While it is true that grave injustice has been done to Karnataka in terms of providing funds compared to neighbouring states, the Prime Minister and other senior Union ministers have assured me of all help.
Tags - Find More Articles On: