Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Jun 27: Senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojary on Saturday June 27 came out in strong defence of chief minister Siddaramaiah, who faces a 'murder' complaint over farmer suicides in the state, and said that filing such a complaint against the CM was 'intolerable'.

Addressing a press meet that went on for about one-and-a-half hours, Poojary said, "Murder complaint has been against the CM over deaths of three farmers. It is intolerable. Who is behind this (filing of complaint)? Which party has instigated it? Was it Yeddyurappa or Kumaraswamy? If such practices of filing complaints against the CM continue then the administration will suffer.

"The CM is also the son of a farmer and knows farmers' grievances. He has initiated several irrigation projects and waived loans to the tune of Rs 22,000 crore. He has also given Rs 4 as subsidy to milk producers and free rice to the poor and at concessional rates to APL card holders. Several such programmes have been undertaken for the welfare of rural areas," he contended.

Coming down heavily on the opposition, he said, "BJP and JD(S) are politicizing this issue. Why didn't Yeddyurappa, Shobha Karandlaje and Deve Gowda being MPs raise their voice in the parliament about farmers problems?

"Kumaraswamy is joining hands with Yeddyurappa. But his father (Deve Gowda) had said JD(S) would never join BJP. Kumaraswamy is doing drama and he should be ashamed of it. He should stop this drama and all parties from the state should lead a delegation to the Prime Minister together to urge waiver of farmer loans," he said.

Throwing an open challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Poojary said, "I challenge the PM to waive farmers' loans. If you (Modi) have concern for farmers, then waive their loans. It is your responsibility. This will benefit nearly 70 percent of the population in the country."

Commenting on the padayatra planned by BJP MP and former CM Yeddyurappa on Sunday June 28, Poojary said, "Already 10 FIRs have been filed against Yeddyurappa and now is holding padayatra to hide those allegations. When Deve Gowda and Yeddyurappa were chief ministers of Karnataka, why did they not give a scheme like Anna Bhagya?"

Training guns on MP Nalin Kumar Kateel without taking his name, Poojary said, "What is the big deal about being MP number one? Distributing Rs 5 crore from the government is not a big achievement. It is like a postman's work. Real achievement if when you speak in the parliament. Go and speak in the parliament and raise questions. When people face problems raise your voice in the parliament on their behalf. Then the parliament will give you the tag of number one MP. What is achievement of BJP MPs? Do you (BJP) think people of Dakshina Kannada are fools? Even I had distributed funds when I was an MP - is that an achievement at all?"

On the Lalit Modi issue, he said, "People have given BJP 282 seats in the parliament thinking it would give good administration and abolish corruption. We will not allow corruption, nor will we not allow the BJP to protect anyone. In every party there is corruption. I know you (Narendra Modi) are a good orator, but how many lies will you tell?

"Lalit Modi was punished for two years in a drugs case, and now he is involved in black money. Lalit Modi is a fugitive and an absconder who has run away to a foreign country. The previous (UPA) government had cancelled his passport and then he approached the high court. A single bench said that it was improper to cancel his passport and later a divisional bench also ordered that his passport be returned to him. Why did the present BJP-led government not approach the Supreme Court to impound his passport?"

On Lalit Modi's claim that he had 'run into' Priyanka Gandhi in London, he said, "What is the problem in just talking to Priyanka? Can't a person even talk to her? She herself has said she has no connection with Lalit Modi."

Commenting on Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje who is also embroiled in the Lalit Modi controversy, he said, "Vasundhara Raje has admitted to helping him. This is sedition. Both Raje and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj should resign. Lalit Modi has given black money to Raje's family. Why does the PM have no courage to sack them? You (Narendra Modi) had criticized former PM Manmohan Singh - but what are you doing now? Are you doing yoga?

"I am not asking the PM to resign. There are still four years left for this NDA government. Give administration to the people," he added.

He also mocked the record set on International Yoga Day (June 21) and said, "What record? Is it a 100 metre race to have world record? Or is it like climbing the Mount Everest? What sort of achievement is it? Even my granddaughter does yoga very well."

He also criticized HRD minister Smriti Irani over the fake degree row.

Asked on the recent controversial transfer of MCC commissioner Hephsiba Rani Korlapati, he declined to comment on it and said he would speak on it another day.