Former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy of the Janata Dal Secular has said that the BJP treats him with greater respect than the Congress. He admitted that the recent birthday greeting from Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave rise to speculation of the parties merging - but he ruled this out. The JDS will also not support the BJP in the controversial Cow Protection Bill in the state. He spoke to NDTV at his farm in the Ramanagara district.