Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Jan 17: BJP spokesperson Harikrishna Bantwal on Wednesday January 17 hit back at the Congress, especially district in-charge minister Ramanath Rai over the issue of BJP carrying the image of Koti-Chennaya in its banner at a programme in Puttur.
Addressing a press meet here, Harikrishna Bantwal said, "BJP did not misuse the image of Koti-Chennaya in the banner during the public programme at Puttur, but we used the picture with due respect to Koti-Chennaya because the programme was organised in their birthplace.
"When chief minister Siddaramaiah visited Bantwal to inaugurate the development works it was noticed that six flexes were put up along with the image of Sri Narayana Guru. Ramanath Rai has forgotten about this flex board. If he is blind we will give him BJP spectacles to see it," he added sarcastically.
"Ramanath Rai has no moral right to talk about the Billawa community. When a Muslim man was caught posting an offensive picture of Deyi Baidethi, Ramanath Rai did not even condemn it and or even feel it was an insult to the Billawa community. Ramanath Rai fears losing the forthcoming elections. He knows that he will not win. He never wanted people to live together and has always wanted to create a barrier between different religions. He is playing cheap politics," he alleged.
"Rai questioned as to what BJP has done for the Billawa community. Leaders like Rukmayya Poojary, Kota Srinivas Poojary and Sunil Kumar have won the elections. Vinay Kumar Sorake was a minister, why was he sacked? He was sacked because of Ramanath Rai and Oscar Fernandes.
"Senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojary lost the elections because of Ramanath Rai. This was the reason for Poojary's tears. He also restricted Poojary from entering the Congress office. Ramanath Rai became MLA and minister because of Janardhan Poojary but today Poojary has been sidelined. When Poojary had fallen sick no Congressman bothered to visit him and enquire after his health, on the other hand, BJP had prayed for his recovery. Ramanath Rai clicks photos with Poojary just to show that he is on good terms with him, this is how Rai plays cheap politics.
"BJP has never played such cheap politics and treats everyone as equals. If you (Ramanath Rai) have concern for the Billawa community then you should step back and choose a Billawa candidate to contest in the forthcoming elections," he said.
"In a programme at Town Hall, Ramanath Rai gave credit to the Muslim community for his victories in Bantwal constituency in six Assembly elections, and also said that he would not be able to repay the debt of the Muslim community for several generations. He should allow at least one Muslim to contest in the elections and make him or her win, that will be best way for Rai to repay his debt to the Muslim community.
"The forthcoming elections will be the final contest for Ramanath Rai. People will give him a fitting reply," he said.
Harikrishna Bantwal also said that Ramanath Rai is 'not in-charge of development works' but 'in-charge of sand and drug mafias'.
BJP spokesperson Jitendra Kottari, Sanjay Prabhu and others were present.