Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, May 23: Senior Congress Janardhan Poojary on Saturday May 23 said that BJP would never come back to power in the state again given its previous track record, and that Siddaramaiah would continue to be chief minister for the next 15 years.

Addressing a press meet at the district Congress office here, Poojary said, ""In your (BJP) entire lifetime you cannot come back to power in Karnataka. People have still not forgotten what you did during your administration in the state. Chief minister Siddaramaiah, because of the developmental works he has undertaken, will continue to reign for the next 15 years and make Karnataka the number one state in the country."

Coming down heavily on former CM and BJP national vice-president Yeddyurappa, Poojary said, "BJP and its leaders like Yeddyurappa are questioning the achievements of the Congress government in its two years of power in the state. No chief minister in the history of Karnataka has taken the initiative to provide free rice to the poor. But the present chief minister Siddaramaiah has done this. BJP leaders are pointing at Congress in spite of all the scams and scandals that happened during their regime."

He further said, "During BJP's administration in the state, 16 cabinet ministers were facing charges in various scams and scandals. The then state minister Janardhana Reddy misused his office for illegal mining. Being the CM then, what action did Yeddyurappa initiate against those who violated laws? BJP while in power had brought embarrassment to the state in the eyes of the nation. And now you (BJP) are teaching Congress about administration."

He also said that Siddaramaiah is involving all the cabinet ministers in running the government, but during BJP rule, the differences among the ministers came out in the open.

"The Congress party workers should get ready for elections by campaigning on pro-developmental works," he added.

Poojary also slammed the Narendra Modi-led government at the centre over the black money issue and also his recent visit to China, saying, "We should learn from history."

"Modi's administration is favouring capitalists and showing anti-farmer attitude. Foreign investors will carry away our rich resources to their countries. Instead, they should be asked to support the developmental works in our nation," he said.

He also alleged that Modi has sidelined senior BJP functionaries like Muruli Manohar Joshi, Sushma Swaraj and L K Advani. "Modi is a good speaker who can turn lies into truth. Congerss leaders should learn verbal skills from Modi but speak only the truth," he added.

Former mayor Mahabal Maarla, Vijaykumar Shetty, Harikrishna Bantwal, Nazir Bajal, Suresh Ballal and others were present.