Mangaluru: The senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojary held a press meet at the District Congress office here on January 2, 2016.
Addressing the mediapersons Poojary said that the State and the Central government has decided to continue the Yettinahole Project. The policy of the State and the Central government is to safeguard the western ghats and all other ghats and no one should attempt to destroy the ghats. But in Karnataka where we have 10 lakh hectares forest land and half of the area has been announced as non forest area, our MPs and MLAs are not raising their voice against it. MP Nalin Kumar said that if the government will continue the project he will start a signature campaign, but he did not even have the courage to discuss the issue with his own party leaders.
Poojary further said that the former CM is not ready to meet the people or the activists who are fighting against the project. When the media persons had gone to meet him, his reply was very rude. Sadananda Gowda and Veerappa Moily are supporting the Project whole heartedly. They are adamant in implementing the project and trying their best to see that the project is implemented. Is Yettinahole is not connected to Netravati? Farmers use the water for arecanut and coconut cultivation. We have used Netravati river for the development of the coastal region. The Yettinahole project will destroy the forest land. He further said “God will not forgive if anyone goes against the nature and destroy it”.
Poojary also said, “Former CM is coming to Mangaluru secretly and going back, he is hiding from the media as well as the activists who are fighting against the project. Don’t think that the people of Mangaluru are fools. If you have the courage, contest the next election in Mangaluru”, Poojary challenged.
Yes, Poojary was defeated in the elections, but Poojary’s voice and personality did not suffer. Chief minister Siddaramaiah had come to Mangaluru but he failed to hear the plea of the people. He advised the ministers not to go against nature in implementing the project.
He further said that all leaders are talking about corruption and ways to curb it, but it is only to fool the people. Media has highlighted the corruption of BJP leaders. Yes, there were leaders in congress too who were involved in corruption but the Congress party has taken action against them. What about BJP, why did the BJP not taken action against Vasundara Raje, Sushma Swaraj and Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh. If a person takes Rs 100 it is bribe, but when the BJP leaders are involved in corruption the prime minister does not take any action. Narendra Modi has completed 18 months in power and visited 26 countries but he did not visit a single family of the deceased farmers. Now the time has come for him to visit the farmers since he has realized that he will lose his power soon. The BJP has lost seats in many states and will soon lose in the country.
When asked about Harikrishna Bantwal who contested the MLC election independently, Poojary said, “I had advised him not to contest the election independently because it is like hitting his head to the rock but he did not listen to me. Now he has kept his mobile in switch off mode. Harikrishna was always telling me that I am equal to his father but he did not listen to me”.
When asked about the congress leaders who are still silent on Yettinahole project, Poojary said, “One of the MLC said that he will raise his voice in the Vidhana Soudha to stop Yettinahole project, but he do not have the courage to talk in front of Siddaramaiah”.
Former Mayor Mahabala Marla, corporator Lancelot Pinto and others were also present.