KA-LD CONGRESS

Kumarswamy asserts that he is not under pressure from Congress

(Eds; updating with Chief Minister's reaction)

Bengaluru, Jan 9 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister H D

Kumaraswamy Thursday rubbished media reports that hewas

working under pressure and alleged interference from coalition

partner Congress, terming them "speculative" andimaginary".

Reiterating that the Congress-JD(S) coalitiongovernment

would complete its five-year term amid repeatedspeculation

about its longevity, he said "let there be nodisbelief in

this regard.

"What should I say about speculative news that hascome

in the media? They are imaginary...it has been created,"

Kumaraswamy told reporters.

"It is said that I'm working and running this

administration in a stifling atmosphere....It is a creation of

of some sections of the media.

The discussions that took place in our legislature party

meeting is different. I don't know how to react to such

speculative news," he said.

According to reports, Kumaraswamy had told party

legislators at a recent meeting that he wasworking under

pressure.

He had reportedly told them that he was functioninglike

a clerk and accused the Congress of interference.

Expressing confidence that the coalition government

would complete its five-year term"smoothly", Kumaraswamy

said, "...let there be no disbelief in this regard."

Reacting to media reports that the Committee on New

Education Policy had, in its recommendations, suggestedmaking

Hindi compulsory till class VIII, he said "at the time we go

for elections, anydecision by the union government at this

last stage will nothave any value. That's my opinion."

Not wishing to make any comments about theproposed

controversial steel flyover in Bengaluru,which he had objected

to while in the opposition, Kumaraswamy said easing out

theproblems of the city's citizens was his "top priority".

The government had on January 1 decided to review and

take up a multi-billion steel bridge project here, which it

had scrapped owing to massive public protests in the city.

"For me, the steel bridge or any other kind of

infrastructure work is not important...Easing out the

problems of Bangaluru city citizens is my top priority," he

added.

Earlier, Congress state campaign committee chief H K

Patil had downplayed Kumaraswamy's reported comments about

working under pressure and alleged interference from

Congress, saying that any issue could be discussed with the

party leadership and solved.

He had reiterated his party's stand that both alliance

partners would face the Lok Sabha polls together and would

even go in for joint campaigning, wherever necessary.

"I have seen media reports about Kumaraswamy's comments,

but want to say that elected members may be putting pressure

on the chief minister about development and constituency

related works. He should not feel that we are putting pressure

(on him)," Patil had told reporters. PTI KSU RA APR

APR APR