BJP’s Propaganda and Use of Hindutva Card led to Congress Defeat in DK – Ramanath Rai
Mangaluru: “This is my first press meet after the Assembly elections. The 7 previous MLAs of the district have done very good development work but the BJP was hellbent in spreading propaganda and played the Hindutva card during the elections. The Congress party MLAs were defeated inspite of the good development work done in the district. People of the district believed in the BJP’s propaganda and the Congress party was defeated. The BJP cannot fool the people all the time. Even Bhuvith Shetty, who is involved in murder, is the right hand of MLA Rajesh Naik. But the BJP is spreading lies saying that the SDPI has associated with me. I do not have any connection with the SDPI,” said former minister Ramanath Rai in a press meet held at the DCC office, Mallikatta here on June 14.
Addressing the mediapersons, Ramanath Rai said, “The BJP has spread propaganda that I stopped the aid from the Kollur temple to the Kalladka school. It was not aid being given but a violation of the law since aided schools receive grant from the government to provide mid-day meal to the students. The school administration had given in writing that they were not interested in the government grant. Yet they blamed me for stopping the aid from the Kollur temple when it was clearly a violation of the law. BJP has misused the power of MUZRAI by providing temple funds to the Kalladka school. Now after the elections, the school is getting funds from the government for the mid-day meals”
Ramanath Rai further said, “Sharath Madival was murdered and the BJP used it to spread propaganda. They criticized me in this murder. I believe in God and visit Kalathur temple. When I was the minister, I have given the highest grants to temples. I have also helped in providing CSR funds to temples. I have strong faith in God and Goddesses but the BJP is making fun of me for that. They are targetting me saying that I am involved with the SDPI. In my constituency, five people have been murdered. Out of the 5 murders, SDPI activists were involved in one murder while in the other four murders, BJP workers were involved, including Harish Poojary’s murder. When Harish Poojary was murdered, the BJP targeted me. But when they realized that the Sangh Parivar was involved in the murder, they stop spreading their propaganda. When Bharati was murdered in Siddakatte, at that time the BJP printed pamphlets by targetting Harikrishna’s brother-in-law. But now the same person is in the BJP. Why has the BJP maintained silence in the Bharati murder case?”
Ramanath Rai also said, “I have carried out a lot of development work in my constituency. For the development of temples, I have sanctioned grants and also helped in providing funds from companies under the CSR. But the BJP is busy in spreading lies about the development work I have carried out. In the Sharat Madival murder case, the BJP was aware that the SDPI is involved. But they are holding me responsible. If the SDPI is involved in any murder, how am I responsible? Recently in Bantwal, there was a clash between two groups and two youth were assaulted. Surendra Bantwal had brandished the sword but in some media, it was mentioned that Surendra Bantwal was my close aide. The media is well aware of the people who are with me. If Surendra Bantwal was my close aide, why has he not been with me for any of my press meets or the party meetings? I want to say that Bhuvith Shetty, who was involved in a murder, is the right hand of MLA Rajesh Naik. Even after the assembly elections, the BJP is spreading false rumors about me. One can fool a people once but not all the time. People will understand their lies and soon the results will come out in the Lok Sabha elections.”
“When Modi came to power he said that he will bring back the black money and credit Rs 15 lakh into the account of every citizen. But even after four years, he has failed to keep his promise. He had assured to waive farmers loans. Fuel prices are being hiked day by day, the Rupee is falling against the Dollar and the economy of the country is in danger. The Lok Sabha elections are nearing and we are working hard for a positive result.”
District Congress president and MLC Harish Kumar, Mayor Bhaskar K, Kanachur Monu, Sashidhar Hegde, Ibrahim Kodijal, Praveenchandra Alva and others were also present.
