From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Mar 5: Plethora of lemons found in different parts of the office premises on Race Course Road in Bengaluru in favour of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) by the JD(S) on the orders of the Supreme Court irked KPCC President Dr G Parameshwara no end.

"Why were lemons found in the building?," a bewildered Dr Parameshwara asked.

Though he did not ascribe any reasons, it is obvious that he was probably hinting at the some black magic being performed as generally lemons sprinkled with vermilion are normally used in such rituals by tantrics.

As the reports of KPCC chief’s comments were aired in the Kannada television channels, JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D DeveGowda was quick to take sharp exception to such remarks from an educated and cultured person like Dr Parameshwara.

"What is he (Dr Parameshwara) trying to say or hinting at?," asked DeveGowda.

Dr Parameshwara said the Congress party would take steps to get the entire building cleaned and even perform pujas before moving in.

Meanwhile, he said announced the party’s fund mobilisation drive to construct a new Congress Bhavan building behind the existing party office on Queen’s Road, which is within walking distance from VidhanaSoudha.

Rs 12 Crore for New Congress Bhavan Building

The State Congress has instructed all party MPs, Ministers, legislators, chairpersons of boards/corporations, district and block presidents to donate funds for building a new Congress Bhavan.

The building is expected to cost Rs 12 crore and the foundation was laid for it a few months ago.

Dr Parameshwara has already written to Ministers and legislators to donate Rs 5 and Rs 1 lakh each respectively. MPs have also been asked to donate Rs 5 lakh each.

District Congress Committee (DCC) and Block Congress Committee presidents have been told to donate Rs 25,000 and Rs 10,000 each respectively.

While some ministers have already donated funds, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has agreed to donate funds to the party office from his salary, the KPCC chief said.

Following instructions from the high command, it has decided to collect Rs 250 from those who wanted to enrol for the party’s membership. The party has launched online membership drive through AICC website and Facebook.

He said DCC chiefs have been instructed to draw a road-map for selecting candidates for gram panchayat elections scheduled to be held in May.

He said the party would hold a massive rally against NDA government’s Ordinance on land acquisition at the Freedom Park on March 14.