Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (UM/RJP)

Udupi, Oct 14: Former chief minister and member of parliament B S Yeddyurappa on Wednesday October 14 accused the minister from Moodbidri, without taking Abhaychandra Jain's name, of protecting the criminals and not allowing police to take any action in the case.

Yeddyurappa was speaking to reporters before proceeding to Moodbidri where he is scheduled to visit the residence of Prashant Poojary, a flower vendor and Bajrang Dal activist who was murdered recently. He had a stopover at Udupi on his way from Barkur where he attended a Guruvandana programme.

"Prashanth Poojary was an honest activist. He was totally against cow trafficking and slaughtering. The law and order situation due to such illegal activities has become worse now. There is total anarchy in the state. Prashanth Poojary had revealed the names of four people who were against him and who had threatened him. In spite of knowing these names, police have failed to arrest them. It is obvious that the minister (Abhaychandra Jain) is involved in protecting these criminal elements. Otherwise why does he not take action or speak? As the culprits have not been arrested yet, it is clear that the minister and the local politicians are indirectly breeding and protecting them," alleged Yeddyurappa.

"KFD was responsible for spreading communal hatred and unrest years back. The BJP government which was in power previously banned the organisation and clipped its wings. But the present Congress government withdrew cases against it. The home minster is inactive and irresponsible. If he has any regard for law in the state, then he should initiate action against the culprits immediately," Yeddyurappa added.

Yeddyurappa also criticized chief minister Siddaramaiah for his remark on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 2, the day of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary that it was 'unfortunate' that Modi and Mahatma Gandhi were born in the same state.

"The whole world is admiring Narendra Modi while a person like Siddaramaih humiliates him in a cheap language. Modi is bringing out the country from darkness created by corruption in the past. Siddaramaiah should realize his mistake and apologise to Modi for his remarks. If he does not apologise, we will protest," Yeddyurappa said.

Criticizing the withdrawal of Suvarna Grama Yojane, Yeddyurappa said, "I welcome Siddaramaiah’s statement wherein he said it is not enough to make the cities smart but also the villages should be developed. But then what is he doing? Why he is not developing villages? When I was in power, I allotted Rs 75 lac to Rs 1 crore per village and a total of 5,000 villages were covered under Suvarna Grama Yojane. But Siddaramaiah’s government cancelled this programme completely. Why did he do so if he cares for rural development? If he does not have any regard for villages, then he should stop talking about them."

Commenting on Rahul Gandhi’s recent visit to the state, Yeddyurappa said, "Rahul Gandhi visited Karnataka and made it big news. He talked as if he had stopped farmer suicides. But after his visit 25 more farmers committed suicide. What have this government and Rahul Gandhi done for farmers? Why they cannot stop farmer suicides? Even farmers themselves criticized Rahul Gandhi when he visited Mandya and Haveri recently."

Yeddyurappa also briefed about the third round of the BJP Raita Chaitanya Yatre be held soon. "The itinerary of the third round of Raita Chaitanya Yatre is ready and final details and schedule will be revealed tomorrow (October 15) in Bengaluru. This rally is going to involve around 3 lac farmers from the state."

Udupi-Chikkmagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje and others were present.