Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV/BG)
Mangalore, Mar 24: The district Congress on Monday March 24 sounded the poll bugle with a party workers' convention organized at Town Hall here, during which the party leaders called upon the workers and supporters to strive for candidate Janardhan Poojary's victory in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Earlier in the day, the party's campaign office was inaugurated in the "Exotica" building of Rohan Corpoartion, near SCS Hospital here. Union minister Oscar Fernandes and his wife Blossam Fernandes inaugurated the office by lighting the auspicious lamp along with various other leaders including Ramanath Rai, Mohammad Masood, J R lobo, Mahabala Maarla, Shakuntala Shetty, Ibrahim Kodijal and Janardhan Poojary.
Oscar and Blossam Fernandes were given a grand welcome with the traditional Chende and the official Congress Seva Dal salute.
Oscar also inaugurated the party convention at Town Hall. In his address, he recalled Janardhan Poojary's efforts when Congress had been defeated in north India and was facing a tough time. "At that time, it was Poojary who struggled for the party and made Indira Gandhi the Prime Minister by helping her contest and win from Chikmagalur. The contributions of Poojary, Veerappa Moily and the late Blasius D'Souza to this region are immense," he said.
"Poojary is a person who has always supported the party workers. During the last Assembly elections his efforts in organizing padayatra and campaigns resulted in us winning seven out of the eight constituencies in the district and registering a historic comeback. We should salute him for those wins," he said.
"These days just to have lunch or dinner with a politician people have to pay Rs 2.5 lac, but the Congress government under the initiative of president Sonia Gandhi is providing rice at Rs 1 to the poor. The Congress has been working towards bringing people out from the shackles of poverty, empowering women and providing social and economic justice every person, and also to empower the suppressed classes," he added.
District incharge minister Ramanath Rai said, "This is an important election. Janardhan Poojary is an active and creative leader who went to the parliament not just to give attendance. He learnt about the problems of the district and responded to them. He was the one who nationalized our banks when he was in charge of the finance ministry and made them accessible to the poor. He thus came to be known as 'Poor Man's Poojary'.
"In our internal election we showed that we are united. Today our responsibility has increased. We should make sure Poojary wins with majority and we should also create awareness among the people about his contribution to society. He is a good politician with good character and promptness which is appreciated by the opposition too," he said.
"We should compare the work done by Poojary and BJP candidate Nalin Kumar Kateel. What did Nalin Kumar do for the district? His contribution was zero. When the budget was being presented he was inaugurating a cloth store. Why should such people be elected?" he said.
Attacking BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Rai said, "During Assembly elections when there was Modi wave, he came to Mangalore and still we won seven out of the eight seats. Today only Modi is projected because the BJP has lost value. They are selling Modi tea, chocolates and buttermilk.
"They talk about corruption and then bring Eshwarappa, who had a note counting machine, to this district of intellectuals to preach about corruption," he added.
Congress Lok Sabha candidate Janardhan Poojary said, "As per the guidance of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi I got the ticket. Some people have been saying I should not talk. I will not talk but you (party workers) should talk and tell peope in every nook and corner about Congress' contribution and BJP's failure. Then there is no need for Poojary to speak.
"I used to speak out when there were cases of assault on women. We should respect and revere women. This is my pledge and my dharma. I believe in secularism, in treating everyone as equals. When women are insulted should I remain silent? When Muslims are facing problems should I be silent? This nation belongs to everyone and protecting rights of women and all people is our dharma. We have reservations for different classes, but there are many poor even in the upper castes, and I have been saying this from long. When I was the finance minister I had a plan to bring a project with DK as the centre for employment, but BJP never allowed it and the project got stuck after BJP came to power. If I come to power again I will bring it back," he said.
"Presently the BJP is asking votes in the name of Modi and not in the name of Nalin Kumar Shetty (Nalin Kumar Kateel) or BJP. Hence when they do not talk of BJP or Nalin, it means Modi is my opponent, and that is why I want him to contest from here.
"Veteran leaders like L K Advani, Jaswant Singh and Sushma Swaraj have been sidelined in the BJP and they were ready to take Pramod Muthalik who instigated the pub attack," he lashed out.
Making a final appeal for support and indirectly hinting at Veerappa Moily, he said, "I never tried to bring my family members to power. I have carried dead bodies on my shoulders thinking that their families' sufferings were mine. I have worked for society."
M D Aslam from JD(S), retired DCP Dharmaiah, Joseph Pinto, Mariamma Thomas from KJP to Congress, Dinkar Shetty, president of All College Students' Union, Sandeep Kankanady and others joined Congress party on the occasion.
Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake also spoke. Blossom Fernandes, Shakuntala Shetty, J R Lobo, Mohiuddin Bava, B A Moidin, Mohammed Masood, Vijaykumar, Ibrahim Kodijal, Ivan D’ Souza, Mahabala Maarla, Mamata Gatti and others were present.