Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (MS)

Udupi, Jan 27: What is wrong if Hindus, who are 80% of the population of India, are appeased? You (Congress) appease minorities. I do not oppose it. Congress is in an illusionary world. Congress will never come to power. When they sit to distribute tickets, terrible infighting will begin which will end in smashing of tables and chairs. BJP will get not less than 150 seats,” said former minister from Congress, Pramod Madhwaraj.

Now a BJP leader, Pramod Madwaraj took a dig at the Congress party leaders on various issues.

He said, “Siddaramaiah has called me a political party hopper. He has joined seven different parties. If he believes that defection is such a huge crime, let him announce that Congress will not include people who have got positions in other political parties. I am not the first defector in the world. He has addressed me without respect. I was a cabinet minister in his government. If he speaks so cheaply about a cabinet minister of his government, how will he speak to the commoners? We also know to use abusive and derogatory language. But my parents have not taught me such culture."

“Siddaramaiah says that I joined JD (S). But when I asked for a ticket, it was a coalition between JD (S) and Congress. I questioned the giving away of Udupi seat to JD (S). During that time, Siddaramaiah said that JD (S) had asked for Mysuru constituency. But he does not like to give that to them. So he gave the Udupi seat to JD (S). I got JD (S) membership after obtaining prior permission from Siddaramaiah and Dinesh Gundu Rao.

“Congress has not removed me from their party. I condemn lying. I resigned only to the technical membership of JD (S).”

Replying to a query on money taken from JD (S), Pramod said, “Congress president of Udupi-Chikkamagalur had gone to the house of JD (S) supremos and asked how much they will contribute for party funds. I have distributed the funds that were given by JD (S) to district Congress.”

Giving clarification on the statement of D K Shivakumar that Congress party has given positions to Pramod’s parents, Pramod said, “My father built the party from his own funds. That is why he was given the position. The party also gave minister's position to my mother for her honest service. It is not an achievement to build a party by taking money from others. I have not built my party from the ill gotten funds. I have not used the position that was given to me by the Congress party. I have served the commoners.
Why S M Krishna was not criticised when he joined BJP? When D K Shivakumar gave his daughter in marriage to the grandson of S M Krishna did he not know that the latter was a defector?”

Pramod further said, “BJP will win in all the constituencies of Udupi in the 2023 assembly elections. BJP workers have the capability to make anyone who contests from their party win.”

Responding to the statement of D K Shivakumar that none of the Congress workers have joined BJP along with Pramod, Madhwaraj said, “There is no opportunity for Congress people to join BJP all of a sudden. There is a process. I have asked to contact the Shakti Kendra presidents. I have asked them to let people from Congress party join BJP. When the elections near it will be clear as to how many will join BJP."

“All cannot sit on the dais in BJP. There is a discipline in BJP. In Congress everyone gets onto the stage. In Congress leaders are plenty and workers are very few. I feel happy to sit with party workers. I have joined the BJP without any preconditions. If the party gives a ticket, I will contest. Otherwise I will work to make the party candidates victorious,” he said.

Replying to Siddaramaiah’s statement that Pramod praises PM Modi more than RSS, Pramod said, “If we do not praise Modi, whom else shall we? Even if Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar indirectly praise Modi, they will get a few more votes."

“When my soul is clean, parties are not important. Serving people is my motto. Who said that I have joined JD (S). I am a born Congressian. BJP is strong. People have supported the ideology of BJP. When people of the country have accepted there is no point in refusing it," Madhwaraj said.