BANGALORE: It was a farcical end to a comedy as state JD (S) chief H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday ended his "fast-unto-death" within 24 hours of commencing it. Ironically, the reason to call off the strike ("in the interest of health"), was contrary to his statement on Saturday: "Self respect is more important than life." As doctors checked Kumaraswamy on Sunday, they felt that though he was fine, he could develop problems by Monday, given his ailments.In a shrewd move, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa at 7.50 am on Sunday despatched a letter to Kumaraswamy through his ministers R Ashok, B N Bacche Gowda and V Somanna, appealing to him to call off the strike on health grounds.The government's line was that if Kumaraswamy did not relent, he should be forcefed after arresting him. It was against this background that Yeddyurappa despatched his letter with the timing of drafting the letter (7.45 am) conspicuously mentioned. Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, who was quick to see Yeddyurappa's move as an attempt to take credit for persuading his betenoire to end the strike, involved Jnanpith awardee U R Ananthamurthy and Chandrashekarnath Swamiji, the seer of the Vishwa Vokkaliga Maha Samsthana, to persuade his son to call off the strike.At an emergency meeting of party senior leaders, it was resolved that Kumaraswamy's life was more important and hence he should call off his strike.Kumaraswamy, on his part said, "I would have continued the strike but I have to bow to Ananthamurthy. Party leaders feel I must be healthy to carry on the battle against the BJP." Kumaraswamy left for Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology for a thorough checkup. Ananthamurthy said, "It was Kumaraswamy's decision to go on hunger strike and the party had not endorsed it," contradicting former law minister M C Nanaiah who said, "The party had agreed to Kumaraswamy's decision."
Comments
0 comment