Pics: Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SHS)
Beltangady, Apr 12: Congress Lok Sabha candidate from Dakshina Kannada Janardhan Poojary, a staunch critic of BJP prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi, on Friday April 11 reacted to Modi's admission of his marital status and said that it proved 'Janardhan Poojary was right all along'.
Narendra Modi, who had been so far leaving the column on marital status blank while filing nominations for earlier elections, on Thursday April 10 declared in his affidavit that he was married to Jashodaben while filing his nomination from Vadodara. Jashodaben is a retired school teacher.
Addressing a press meet while campaigning in Madanthyar here, Poojary, who has time and again questioned Modi's marital status, said, "BJP is desperate now. Finally Modi has disclosed that he has a wife. Now it is proved that he was lying. Until now, was claiming to be a Brahmachari, a person without a family. How can a man who cannot take care of his family look after the country?"
He further said, "BJP says Modi is a man who can give good governance and clean administration. BJP is giving him the status of a 'godman'. How can anyone call him a godman when he has neglected his wife?"
"I have been saying this many times but nobody was believing me. But finally my statements have proved right. It is proved that he is a man hiding his real face behind a mask," he said.
"Modi has also committed a mistake in his affidavit by not disclosing his wife's assets. She was a teacher and now she gets pension. He should have mentioned that but he did not," he added.
"Modi and BJP are talking about the Gujarat model of development, but it is a blatant lie. Gujarat faces serious problems - about 60,000 small-scale industries are closed, there is unemployment, 800 farmers have committed suicide and so on. People should not believe in the so-called Gujarat model," Poojary said.
He further said, "Modi is responsible for bringing tears to Jashodaben's eyes. If he does that to his own wife, how can people trust him to protect the women in country. If he comes to power, women will have to face a situation like that of his wife."
Addressing Modi directly, Poojary demanded, "Tell me the truth - why did you not disclose your wife's name earlier?
"Now Modi is saying that he is the candidate for all the 543 constituencies. This is disastrous for democracy. He will be like a dictator. Modi is nothing but RSS, RSS is nothing but Modi, and RSS and Modi are nothing but BJP. If they come to power they will make this country hell," he said.
At a public meet after addressing the media, he said that 'Modi had finally listened to Poojary'.