Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Oct 27: Dakshina Kannada district Congress president and MLA, B Ramanath Rai, has ridiculed the Rath Yatra undertaken by BJP national leader, L K Advani. Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday October 26, he commented that the expedition, termed by the BJP leaders as ‘Janachetana Yatra (journey to sensitise people against corruption), has in fact, turned out to be ‘Vikalachetala Yatra (journey of handicapped people)’.
Rai was addressing a press conference held at the office of his party here on Wednesday October 26. “I fail to understand on what moral ground will Advani enter Karnataka, at a time when BJP leaders, Janardhana Reddy, Katta Subrahmanya Naidu, Krishnaiah Shetty and others are in jail relating to corruption charges. How can he launch tirade against corruption, when his own men are corrupt?” he questioned.
Ramanath Rai reasoned that Advani has launched this Yatra in an effort to lift his sagging political charisma. He advised Advani to speak about the corruption of the state government instead of central government.
The MLA also came down heavily on former Chief Minister (CM) of the state, B S Yeddyurappa, who had declared to rid the state of huts three years back. “Yeddyurappa failed to sanction even one house under ‘Ashraya’ scheme after he became CM. Should we now believe the words of Sadananda Gowda that he will rid the roads of pot holes shortly?” he wondered. He asked the people of the district to evaluate for themselves the performances of the candidates who won from the Congress and BJP tickets, and find for themselves who are serving them better.
Directing his anger at Chikmagalur MLA, C T Ravi, for his habit of deriding Congress party at every forum, Rai said that the people of Chikmagalur have begun calling him ‘Koti Ravi’. He wondered how such people can speak about Congress party and corruption.
Party leaders, Iavan D’Souza, Haji Ibrahim Kodijal, Mohammed Badruddin, M S Muhammed, Shasidhar Hegde, Mamata Gatti, Mithun Rai, Farooq Ullal, Sadashiva Ullal, T K Sudhir, Padmanabha Naringana, and others were present at the press conference.