The H D Deve Gowda Chat
T hose who flocked to the chat with H D Deve Gowda on Tuesday night were disappointed that the former prime minister was not more forthcoming with his answers. The mood turned ugly for a while, but Deve Gowda had his supporters who rooted for him as well. Check out the transcript.
Rediff On The NeT (Tue Aug 5 1997 18:7 IST)
Welcome To The Rediff Chat
Nikhil Lakshman (Tue Aug 5 1997 19:13 IST)
Good evening, Mr Deve Gowda. It is wonderful to have you here with us today. Many thanks for your kindness and I do hope you like the experience.
Mr H D Deve Gowda (Tue Aug 5 1997 19:33 IST)
Good Evening ! Mr Deve Gowda is here
Lionel (Tue Aug 5 1997 19:23 IST)
Good Evening Mr HD DG , I am logged In from the Sultanate Of Oman & bring U greetings from many NRIs from here. My first question to you is:Are we today chatting with M Gowda the politician or Mr Gowda,an ordinary Indian. Your answer to this one will determine the questions I have for U,Sir.
Lakshmi Pillai (Tue Aug 5 1997 19:23 IST)
Good evening Mr Deve Gowda, how long do you think I K Gujral will remain at the helm?
Mr H D Deve Gowda (Tue Aug 5 1997 19:36 IST)
Dear Lionel Today, I am answering questions as the former PM and a member of the Rajya Sabha. The question of destabilising the Gujral government is not the concern of the United Front -- it depends upon the supporting party the Congress which has got the largest number of MPs in the Lok Sabha -- the UF -- whatever may be the area of minor differences -- will stand united behind the leadership of Mr I K Gujral.
Sampurna Adiga (Tue Aug 5 1997 19:36 IST)
Hullo, Sir, So good to speak to you. And on time also! Can the Janata Dal survive, Sir? Mr V P has said the Dal is dead. Do you agree with his view?
Mr H D Deve Gowda (Tue Aug 5 1997 19:44 IST)
Dear Sampurna, I would like to clear the doubts of my friend so far as the survival of the Janata Dal is concerned. The JD is a party which was established with the sacrifice of several youth of the country -- the youth particularly in Bihar and Gujarat started the movement against corruption and maladministration and ultimately it was blessed by Jayaprakash Narayan. Ultimately, the party fought virtually the second freedom struggle against the draconian Emergency which was established by the then ruling party the Congress. When the freedom of the country including the freedom of the press, the freedom of speech, the freedom of the judiciary -- everything was curbed. JP fought the battle against this -- lakhs and lakhs of people went to jail -- including the tallest leaders of this country -- Jayaprakash Narayan, Chandra Shekhar and Morarji Desai, even Advaniji and Vajpayee. Today lakhs and lakhs of workers from the village level to the national level who are committed to the Janata Party or Janata Dal are going to save this party from crisis. This party has faced several crises in the past and will overcome this crisis and become a third political force in this country.
Abdul Kaskar (Tue Aug 5 1997 19:40 IST)
Namaskaram, Deve Gowdaji. My parents have always voted for whichever party you headed in our dear Karnataka. What was the most successful achievement of your tenure in office? What was the most difficult part of being prime minister? Was it being answerable to the Congress, to the 13 party coalition?
Mr H D Deve Gowda (Tue Aug 5 1997 19:50 IST)
Dear Abdul, There is no question of facing any problem during the 10 month period as PM. I had the fullest satisfaction for having served the nation without giving scope for any scam in the government and not allowing any decisions to bring down the image of the government. We tried to do our best for every region and for every section of society. Our Budget for 1997-98 is an indicator about the government's intention to cover all sections of society including the suffering masses like SC/STs, other backward classes and minorities. In this short span of time I can't list out all the achievements in my answer.
King (Tue Aug 5 1997 19:51 IST)
Mr Gowda am one of your great admirers. Sir please tell us HOW DO YOU PLAN TO FULFILL YOUR PROMISE OF COMING BACK!:-)
Mr H D Deve Gowda (Tue Aug 5 1997 20:2 IST)
Hello Mr. King ! The question of coming back again is in the hand of the people of our country who are our masters. But as an ordinary worker of the JD I have already declared that I am going round the country with the sole objective of meeting people and also consolidating the party in every state. The object of my tour is to convey to the people of this nation the UF government's achievements in the last 12 months, what the UF government achieved and the programmes we have launched for the sake of the poor people of the nation with the objective of speedy development in the country. If they are satisfied, the people of this nation -- and I am confident -- are going to bless us. I am going to launch this mass contact programme throughout the nation. UF leaders and myself will address several meetings during this programme for roughly two months. The question of my coming back is not so important -- but the question of bailing this country out from the hands of the manipulators and the people who have made this country suffer by wrong doings is our main object. That is why the UF has projected the common minimum programme which covers several priority areas and also time-bound programmes to achieve this.
Nihar (Tue Aug 5 1997 20:6 IST)
Shri Gowda, read your answer to Mr. King's question. That may be correct, but don't you think that people are likely to trust UF only if they project a common image ? Why isn't the party getting its act together ?
Mr H D Deve Gowda (Tue Aug 5 1997 20:8 IST)
Dear Nihar, In every political party the internal problems are there -- are there not problems in the Congress, BJP? The UF is a 13 party coalition with different policies and programmes of their own, with their own manifestos and ideologies. When we formed the UF we drew up the CMP for smooth functioning. Even then there are certain area of differences so far as policies are concerned -- for instance, the Women Reservation Bill and the price hike of petro products. Naturally, we have to discuss some issues at the steering committee and come to a unanimous decision. It takes some time and on such matters views are going to be expressed by our partners through the media -- that does not mean there is disunity in the UF.
raviv (Tue Aug 5 1997 20:8 IST)
Mr Gowda, I believe only pre-election alliances should be recognised and not post election alliances. The post alliance scenario breeds power brokering, and is a violation of the people's mandate. We can then be spared of the shenanigans of opportunists. Your opinion ??
Mr H D Deve Gowda (Tue Aug 5 1997 20:17 IST)
Dear Raviv, The 11th Lok Sabha election has not given any mandate to any political party. This is the first time that nearly 30 to 32 parties -- national, regional and smaller groups -- are represented in the Lok Sabha. I agree that if the coalition was formed before facing the electorate it would have been more advantageous for the coalition parties to run the country, with more stability. But before going to the polls if like-minded parties with their agreed policies and programmes faced the electorate and got their mandate that would be more practical and it will help the coalition to run the country more effectively. But unfortunately nobody expected the outcome of the 11th Lok Sabha election. That is why the coalition of several parties was inevitable and the first coalition headed by the BJP was in office for 13 days and the UF coalition with 13 parties is running the government for 13 months. Your suggestion to form the coalition before facing the next election with an agreed programme is worth considering.
pummy (Tue Aug 5 1997 20:18 IST)
Maanya Gowda ravare, Do you any plans of getting involved with Karnataka Politics more aggressively? Or you just want to stick with National Politics?
Mr H D Deve Gowda (Tue Aug 5 1997 20:26 IST)
Dear Pummy, I confine myself to national politics. At the same time, Karnataka is also part of the nation -- when I concentrate on national politics it includes Karnataka. It is my home state -- I am not going to ignore Karnataka and I will try to extend my full co-operation to my party to strengthen the Janata Dal with the co-operation of the CM and other senior leaders.
Mr H D Deve Gowda (Tue Aug 5 1997 20:39 IST)
THANK YOU VERY MUCH !! MR. Deve GOWDA ***GONE***
Mr H D Deve Gowda (Tue Aug 5 1997 20:41 IST)
Thank you very much, I have enjoyed myself at this chat.
bhamy (Tue Aug 5 1997 20:39 IST)
Gowdaji.... Can u do all of (Indians) a favour? Please take a printout of this chat and show it in Parliament to all the politicians there and tell them how frustrated we are about the country. In the last 50 years we have created a biggest mess in this universe. Don't u agree with me...
Mr H D Deve Gowda (Tue Aug 5 1997 20:51 IST)
Dear Bhamy, I am back just to answer your question: The achievements in this country after 50 years of Independence should be properly understood by my friends. This country is one of the largest democracies in this world. What we have not achieved in the last 500 years we have achieved in these 50 years. This country is totally committed to democracy even though there is some political crisis and confusion even today. This country has given in the last 50 years equal opportunity for the suppressed and oppressed sections of society. India today is the 8th largest industrial country in the world, the third largest country in the fields of science and technology, the third largest country in the field of railways. India has tried to eradicate famine. It is the 4th largest country in defence. India's achievements must be properly assessed. Some of the achievements which I have listed must be taken in the right spirit by those people who feel frustrated by the present political crisis. There is no place for a pessimistic approach to the present problem -- In 76 years, Italy has had 74 government. India has got the capacity to overcome the present crisis and India will become one of the strongest nations in the world.
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