Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Nov 5: Karkala MLA, chief whip of the opposition in the state assembly, and state BJP vice president, V Sunil Kumar, has questioned the moral right the state chief minister (CM), Siddaramaiah, in claiming to be walking in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi. 'Mahatma Gandhi had called for banning defections, cow slaughter, and liquor consumption. Siddaramaiah is in power based on these three things which Gandhi abhorred. Does he have the moral base to use the name of father of the nation?' he questioned.

Sunil accused Congress party of coming to power repeatedly by liberally using the name of Mahatma Gandhi since independence, and then failing to bring into practice what was preached by him. He reasoned that having been frustrated at the wholehearted support Narendra Modi's programme of 'Swachchata Abhiyan' has received, the chief minister has been frustrated.

'Our chief minister, who was sidelined in a party, joined Congress because of lure for power. After becoming the CM, he has been helpless to do anything on his own, nor has he been able to keep his ministers under check. Unable to sanction grants for various things, he has now been heaping criticism on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Modi. I pity him for the helpless situation he is in now,' Sunil added.

He noted that Gandhiji was greatly concerned about the culture and heritage of the country. He said that Siddaramaiah, who does not tire of harping about Gandhian philosophy, was wearing footwear when participating in Mysore Dasara festival. 'Gandhiji had lot of concern and respect for women. But during the rule of the Congress, not only women, even small children have become highly unsafe,' he commented.

In a release, Kumar advised the chief minister to get reality check about RSS, a patriotic organization, which had served the country by risking lives of its members during country's war with Pakistan and during natural disasters. Noting that Siddaramaiah has failed to imbibe qualities of patriotism, culture, simplicity, protection of women etc that were close Gandhiji's heart, he advised the CM to attend RSS training camp to get proper training in these things.