Udupi: Janardhan Poojary defends tainted MLAs' induction, alleges DVS of corruption
Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (DV)
Updated
Udupi, Jan 3: Facing criticism from the BJP for not speaking on the issue of inducting tainted MLAs D K Shivakumar and Roshan Baig into the ministry while criticizing on Yeddyurappa's re-entry into BJP, Congress leader Janardhan Poojary on Friday January 3 called for a press meet here and defended the ministers' induction into the cabinet.
"Roshan Baig and D K Shivakumar are only facing allegations. When BJP was ruling this state two-third of its ministers were facing severe charges of indulging in scams and scandals. S R Hiremath and H S Doreswamy had the morality and guts to talk about corruption but not BJP. BJP does not have any morality.
Even Gujarat CM Narendra Modi faces accusation of not appointing Lokayukta for 10 years in his state. If Modi comes to Karnataka we will question him about his marital status and he should answer it," he said.
On BJP welcoming former chief minister Yeddyurappa back in to the party, he said, "I thank BJP for inducting B S Yeddurappa. He was the person who went to jail and is facing severe charges of corruption."
Alleging that former CM D V Sadananda Gowda too has indulged in corruption, he said, "When Sadananda Gowda was the chief minister of Karnataka, he falsely claimed that he owns no house and acquired a site with a house and another house in Bangalore where he is building a commercial complex. Is this not corruption?."
"If all MPs and MLAs are acquiring sites, then where is the land to build homes for shelterless people? Where will they go?" he added.
On the hike in price of non-subsidised LPG cylinder, he said, "I will write to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and to AICC president Sonia Gandhi to increase the number of subsidised gas cylinders from 9 cylinders to 15 per year.
"When it comes to providing subsidies to poor and middle class families, everyone will raise their voice, but when subsidies are given to industrial sector no one is bothered," he added.
Responding to BJP's massive rally on Thursday January 2 against the proposed ban on arecanut, he said, "BJP is unnecessarily creating confusion among areca growers. Already the chief minister and MLAs have spoken to the Prime Minister against imposing the ban. Areca will not been banned. Union government has already sanctioned Rs 25 crore as compensation to areca farmers whose crops were affected by rot disease. The government will also sanction another Rs 100 crore. The farmers were suffering even during Sadananda Gowda’s tenure as CM. What did he give to farmers?"
M A Gafoor, Harish Kini, Narasimha Murthy and Dinesh Puthran were present.
Earlier Report
Mangalore: Why is Janardhan Poojary silent over induction of DKS, Baig, asks BJP
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (EP)
Mangalore, Jan 3: The district unit of BJP, in a press statement, has questioned the silence of Congress leader Janardhan Poojary over the inclusion of 'tainted' MLAs D K Shivakumar and Roshan Baig into the state cabinet.
"Congress leader Janardhan Poojary was criticizing the BJP when former Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa was about to join BJP. Why then is he silent when tainted MLAs D K Shivakumar and Roshan Baig have joined the cabinet?" questioned the district BJP unit.
Stating that joining the party and then leaving it to start another party has been a habit with Congress, BJP district spokesperson K Jayarama Shetty said, “Congress got divided in 1969 due to fights between Indira Gandhi and Karnataka’s Nijalingappa. Devaraj Urs formed a separate Congress party in Karnataka.
"When Bangarappa was made the president of Congress party in Karnataka and Gundu Rao became the chief minister during the elections that followed, Bangarappa left Congress and joined Kranti Ranga and defeated Congress in 1983. Bangarappa joined Congress again in 1984 during Lok Sabha elections.
"When hundreds of such incidents have occurred in Congress, how can they point fingers at Yeddyurappa?” asked BJP district spokesperson K Jayarama Shetty in a statement.
Satish Prabhu, also the BJP district spokesperson said, “The state Congress leaders are nervous about B S Yeddyurappa's return to BJP and are giving statements out of frustration. Congress is now scared of Narendra Modi and the BJP.”