Friday, January 20 2006 15:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Rebel Janata Dal (S) leader H D Kumaraswamy today (Jan 20, 2006) said he has not 'betrayed' his father H D Deve Gowda and the decision to break away from the coalition in Karnataka was taken because of constant 'humiliation' from ruling ally Congress.

"I have not betrayed my father, I know my father was very much interested in secular forces. But actually at his juncture in Karnataka... the Congress people, using secular sentiments, want to destroy our party," he said.

Blaming Congress for the turn of events, Kumaraswamy said, "For the past 20 months they humiliated our party workers, MLAs and even our ministers" and added even Chief Minister Dharam Singh had changed the orders taken by JD(S) ministers.

"Congress party does not keep its words. From the beginning they have promised they have not fulfilled the promise, which they made. We supported this Congress government for 20 months with a lot of humiliation. Finally we have decided to come back," he told sources.

After two days of hectic political activities, which saw the Janata Dal(S) working president withdraw the support of 46 MLAs to the 20-month old coalition government, he made it clear that he would chose party when asked to decide between the organisation and the family.

"I have not met my father for the last one week, not even spoken to him over phone. At this moment all my MLAs, they are forcing me not to discuss anything with our senior leaders, including my father. "Because through some sentiment again he will force us to support Congress. That is why our MLAs, they are surrounding me and they are not giving me permission to talk to my father," he added.