Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Apr 25: Hitting back at chief minister (CM) B S Yeddyurappa for his statement that the Congress Party has been neglecting senior leaders, former chief minister S M Krishna wondered as to why the CM has so much concern for the Congress leaders.
He was replying to questions raised by the reporters after addressing a meeting organized at Naguri in the city for seeking votes for the party's Lok Sabha candidate B Janardhan Poojary on Friday April 24.
"In several polling centres in the first phase in the state, names were found to be missing from the voter rolls. Voting is the fundamental right of the citizens. I do not understand why the Election Commission could not prepare the electoral rolls properly and systematically," he commented, making known his deep displeasure.
Krishna asserted that there are no differences of opinion among the three top leaders of the Congress Party in Dakshina Kannada district. "In tune with the responsibilities entrusted to them by the party, they are engaged in campaigning in different places. The decision of the Congress Party to field Veerappa Moily from Chikballapur Lok Sabha constituency depicts the confidence of the Congress in annexing this seat again," he analyzed.
Speaking earlier, Janardhan Poojary said, that the Congress was the party that infused economic power into the country's system. The irrigation projects taken up by the Congress gave rise to green revolution and fed the hungry citizens, he said. "The Congress does not believe in doling out impractical and empty assurances. We will not demolish temples, mosques and churches, nor will we wield knives. If possible, we will distribute pens and books to the children of the voters," he added.
District Congress general secretary M G Hegde chided the BJP for making non-execution of death sentence of Afzal Guru an election issue. "Why is the BJP not concerned about the fate of 26 others, who have been given death sentences and their clemency petitions are pending disposal since long?," he questioned.
Congress leaders Kallige Taranath Shetty, former mayor Krishnappa Mendon, Ibrahim, Ivan D'Souza, P V Mohan, city corporator Jacinta Booremio, Abdul Rahman etc were present.