Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Mar 23: Reacting to a protest organized by the district BJP Yuva Morcha against her on Monday March 21 here, accusing her of accepting money to support the nuclear policies of the United Progressive Alliance in the previous Lok Sabha as per the revelations of Wikileaks, former state minister and MP, Manorama Madhwaraj, has challenged the BJP activists to show their support for the suffering people by using their mite against Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL).

“Instead of protesting against me, let them hold protests against UPCL or the state government, which is engaged with a number of scams. As a BJP MP, when UPCL was given the nod initially, I had protested, getting an inkling that it will harm fishing activity, agriculture, health of the children, and environment. Although all the BJP leaders extended support to this protest at first,  they backtracked as the time passed. I therefore, had to single-handedly carry on the fight,” she said.

She said that all her fears have come true now, and that she believes that the BJP leaders, who hurriedly deviated from their initial opposition against UPCL, were paid kickbacks. “The BJP leaders had queued up before my home, requesting me to fight the election on BJP symbol. For them, I was a person with unblemished character then. I did not follow the party diktat relating to the nuclear deal of the Congress in the interests of the nation. I remained neutral during voting on nuclear deal, and I did not get anything in return from the central government. With the divine grace, in my life so far, I have never faced a situation in which to expect to earn money through ulterior methods. The BJP is now engaged in a malicious campaign against me, because of the fact I did not toe their line,” she explained in a press statement.