In what can be called the shortest 'indefinite fast', Kumaraswamy ended his hunger strike at the CM's request; possibility of deal having been struck.
In what can be called the shortest 'indefinite fast', Kumaraswamy ended his hunger strike at the CM's request; possibility of deal having been struck.His fast-unto-death lasted for one-and-a-half days, but it appears that HD Kumaraswamy managed to strike the right chords with his voters even in the short span of time. The Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa sent a letter requesting Kumaraswamy to end his fast, and the latter complied. But it appears that the two have struck a deal. In return for Kumaraswamy's compliance, Yeddyurappa has asked his political advisor BJ Puttaswamy to stop attacking the Gowda family with corruption charges.
It was really fast: The former CM launched the hunger strike on
Saturday, demanding a CBI probe on the corruption allegations made
against him and his father. Pic/Satish BadigerIn what is increasingly looking like a quid pro quo deal, there would be no CBI probe on the allegations made against Kumarswamy and his father H D Deve Gowda. In return, the father-son-duo would be calling cease-fire for a while.u00a0
"It ended with the warring factions adopting a give-and-take policy," said M C Nanaiah, a senior JD(S) leader, who convinced Kumaraswamy to end the fast on behalf of Deve Gowda. "There are many ways to fight against the corrupt government, and fasting was not advisable, keeping Kumarswamy's health in mind," he said.
Yesterday's events came as the final culmination of a murky political domino effect.u00a0
The former CM launched the hunger strike on Saturday, demanding a CBI probe on the corruption allegations made against him and his father. The strike was prompted by Yeddyurappa's release of a chargesheet against Kumaraswamy. It is reported that the chargesheet was Yeddyurappas's rebuttal for Kumaraswamy's disclosure of scams linked to the chief minister and his family members.
If the government had ordered for a CBI probe, then charges on the Gowda family would have given the opposition parties a shot in the arm to demand the same action against Yeddyurappa, who is facing a slew of
corruption charges.u00a0
Supporters and associates expressed concern with the announcement of a fast-unto-death, since Kumaraswamy was a heart patient undergoing a bypass surgery and treatment for diabetes. Dr C N Manjunath, director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology, and Kumaraswamy's brother-in-law, had warned him against that his health might take a beating if he went ahead with the hunger strike. Contrary to the doctor's advice, he had forgotten to drink enough water, and it was almost impossible for him to go on fasting beyond yesterday afternoon.
"I thought I could sustain for three to four days, but diabetes was the real problem.u00a0 I had to stop, owing to the elders' advice and my mother's request," said Kumaraswamy. While his health started deteriorating yesterday morning, Kumaraswamy's blood sugar went past the 300 mark, and he had to call off the fast after several rounds of health check ups. Deve Gowda, who was operating from his residence, sent signals to the chief minister, who was apparently ready for the compromise. And along with three ministers-R Ashok, B N Bachhe Gowda, and V Somanna-came with the CM's letter to Freedom Park, where Kumarswamy was fasting.
The letter said, "Let us resolve the issue through a dialogue, and I request you to call off the strike, considering doctor's advise."
Even Dr U R Anathamurthy, a noted writer, who appeared on the scene at the behest of Gowda to convince Kumaraswamy, said, "The essence of democracy is to resolve the issues with dialogue. I'm happy that Kumaraswamy listened to my advice." Breaking the fast, Kumaraswamy drove to his guesthouse in Sadashiva Nagar, where he had two idlis, and jamoon. Later his son Nikhil took him to their house at J P Nagar.
