Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Aug 1: "The survey conducted by the New Delhi-based Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) which has claimed that I am facing a case of abduction under section 363 of Indian Penal Code, is nothing but figment of imagination. I have no cases against me as of now," clarified Moodbidri MLA, Umanath Kotian.

Addressing a press conference organized at the district BJP office here on Tuesday, July 31, Kotian said that he has remained a clean politician and has been working for everyone without taking into account political affiliation. "I have been cordial with people from all religions. The above organization, based on a case connected with a protest held in the past, in its survey, provided untrue facts about me and tried for my character assassination. I am pained at the efforts made by this organization to sully my reputation on the basis of imaginary allegations," he stated.

Kotian said that he was taken aback after reading that his name was included in the ADR report which mentioned names of 64 people's representatives facing cases of kidnap. "In all my years I worked in social, religious and political fields, not a single case was registered against me. A few years back, our organization had staged road blockade as a measure of protest against inhumanly beating up a boy by the sub-inspector of Kavoor station. Then a case was registered against us, which was the very first case I faced, and this case was disposed off by court," he explained.

Kotian said that after the BJP candidate was defeated at Moodbidri in APMC election, Congress workers had attacked BJP's defeated candidate. We informed police and admitted him into hospital when there was some misunderstanding which we addressed. The opposition party brought a person and admitted him into hospital to counter our action. When our workers asked him the reason he was there, he got up and returned home. But I pacified him and made him to sleep there again. Then a case of abduction was registered although there was no kidnapping. In this case also the police submitted 'B' report as they did not find any proof. Therefore, the mention of my name in the said survey without any basis has hurt me," he said.

BJP leader, Capt Brijesh Chowta, condemned the said organization for making baseless allegation against a people's representative. He said that legal steps would be initiated against the organization for publishing false survey report.

BJP leaders, Nitin Kumar and Premananda Shetty were present at the press conference.