Mangalore: Janardhan Poojary responds to BJP’s complaints to Election Commission

By John V Tauro
Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 1 Apr 2014: ‘BJP has filed 2 complaints against me alleging violation of model code of conduct and I am ready to fight them,’ said Congress veteran LS candidate Janardhan Poojary, addressing media persons at the Congress election campaign office here on Tuesday April 1.

 
In the first complaint the BJP stated that Poojary had violated the model code of conduct by issuing statements about not allowing the hike in self-assessment property tax at any cost. During the media conference, Poojary in his defense said that he has been saying this for a long time.  

‘It was key issue that compelled people to choose Congress during the last civic polls during 2013. We will stick to our promise by all means. Earlier, the BJP too had promised the same, but failed to deliver. BJP thus broke its promise and cheated the people,"said Poojary.

‘In the second complaint, BJP has written to the Election Commission that I had urged for reservations to GSB and Brahmins in my speech during the Congress convention held at Town Hall on March 23 and that I had been indulging in caste-based politics. To this, I want to respond that all the castes have reservations, except GSB and Brahmins, which is not fair,’ said Poojary.

‘There are financially backward people in GSB and Brahmin communities as well, hence the reservations must be given to all the castes. It is not the caste that should be considered for reservation but financial condition. This demand of mine has even reached the top leaders in New Delhi and the same has been accepted and included in the national Congress manifesto as well. It is not just during the times of elections, I have been talking about this issue even at other times too,’ explained Poojary.

 

 
‘By making this an issue, are the BJP and the RSS saying that striving for equality for all religions and castes is bad and not acceptable? BJP is liable to answer this question. Doesn’t the BJP make any promise in its manifesto? FIR has already been filed in this regard but I don’t mind going to jail. Position is secondary, I have been fighting for the poor all these years and I am ready for any consequence this time too,’ asserted Poojary.

 
‘BJP has looted Gujarat. When the public is asking questions, why is it silent? Why don’t BJP come in front of the media? The BJP has failed in its administration in Gujarat; there is no water in nearly 43 percent of the rural areas and 25 percent of cities. There are no toilets, and no adequate drainage facility. BJP must answer to these questions,’ said Poojary.

 
‘BJP has been looting the country and spreading hatred everywhere. Modi has been treated as god. ’Har Har Mahadev’ has become ’Har Har Modi’. As per RSS principles, worship of individuals is not accepted, so how can RSS support this cause now and let Modi be worshipped as god?’ added Poojary.

 
‘The veteran leaders of BJP have been suffering. Jaswant Singh has been shedding tears, Advani has been neglected and Uma Bharti is also facing bad times. Vajpayee was a good leader but Modi will never come to his level. He may be a PM candidate, but his words and speeches are not acceptable,’ said Poojary.

 
Congressmen J R Lobo, Moideen Bava, Ibrahim Kodijal, Mahabala Marla, Kallige Taranat Shetty, Mohammed Masood, Ivan D’Souza, T K Sudhir, Mohammed Badruddin, Sasidar Hegde, Harikrishna Bantwal and others were present on the occasion.