Mangaluru: Senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojary held a press meet at the District Congress Office here, on September 23.
Addressing the mediapersons, Poojary said, “On September 22, former MLC MonappaBhandary in a protest invited me to join the BJP and showed his cheap mentality. When I was young, I had seen my father follow the principles of Congress. He was an ardent lover of Congress. I will also follow the principles of the Congress and no one can make me follow any other party. I will be in Congress till my last breath and there is no question of changing the party. The members of the BJP have showed their cheap mentality by inviting me to their party. In the BJP, there is no unity and they do not follow the principles of equality. In my political career, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have played a vital role.”
Poojary further said, “I need to ask the BJP, who implemented the Yettinahole project? If it is Sadananda Gowda, then is he not from the BJP? Even B S Yeddyurappa and Jagadish Shettar also showed special interest in implementing the Yettinahole river diversion project. Are they not from the BJP? Without any detailed project report, how did DVS implement the project? After Siddaramaiah came to power, the BJP pressurized chief minister Siddaramaiah not to drop the project.”
He also said that MP Nalin Kumar Kateel has been giving statements everyday on the Yettinahole project that it was initiated by the Congress and not by his own party.
When asked if the district minister in-charge and the health minister would resign and fight against the project, Poojary replied that resignation is not the solution. “Instead, both Rai and Khader should fight against the Yettinahole project and stop it. Khader should realize that the people of Kolar may not get water from the Yettinahole river diversion. Instead, it will create problems for the people of Kolar and DK.
He urged the chief minister to investigate the Yettinahole project, find out the person who prepared the DPR and punish him severely. “The original report shows that 24TMC of water is not available in Yettinahole. Infact, only 9.55 TMC of water is available. Knowing the truth, why did Sadananda Gowda implement the project?” he questioned.
When asked about the decision of the Union government to discontinue the stamps of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, Poojary replied that Modi is trying to snatch the rights of the people like he did in Gujarat. “Modi is interfering in every matters and is trying to make the people voiceless,” he added.
Harikrishna Bantwal, Arun Coelho and others were also present.
Poojary is desperate.
Though JP has been badmouthing in excess of other parties, he will always be remembered for his loyalty to Congress, non corrupt practice and reaching out to weaker sections of our Society. He has helped many in our District for which the people will always remain indebted to him. I only wish if he avoids criticizing other parties unnecessarily to gain attention, he would be more popular