Pics: Meryick D’Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MD)
Mangalore, Apr 3: The district BJP on Thursday April 3 alleged that Congress is playing caste politics by specially urging Christians to support and attend AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi's rally on Friday April 4, and thereby 'spoiling' the Mangalore bishop's name.
Addressing a press meet at the BJP election office on Thursday, BJP district president Pratap Simha Nayak read out the following message before the media: "We Christians need to show our presence and strength on April 4, when Rahul Gandhi comes to Mangalore. Please come and join in the rally and please inform your friends and neighbours."
Pratap Simha Nayak said that the Congress was trying to gather Christian people by sending messages to each and every parish and their parishioners to attend Rahul Gandhi’s rally. "They have arranged vehicles for each parish to join in the rally and misused the name of Mangalore Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza to attract the Christians," he said.
"Congress is spoiling the bishop’s name. All these 10 years Congress has been unable to give answers to the people regarding development done by the party. Congress is trying to create a fissure between the people and trying to divide them. Congress is feeling desperate as BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi is going to win. I respect our bishop, but Congress is taking him in the wrong direction and we want the Election Commission to take strict action against the Congress," he said.
Shambhu Sharma said, "People are running away from the Congress party, because they do not want to go to Rahul Gandhi’s rally and Congress is forcing them. We strongly oppose the message which has been sent to all the Catholics in bishop's name. The same message came to one of our party workers and he informed us."
Pratap Simha also criticized Vadodara Congress Lok Sabha candidate Madhusudan Mistry who was arrested for for tearing Modi's banner and said that the Congress does not have any work, hence its people are venting their anger on Modi banner.
Rukmayya Poojary and others were present.