Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)
Mangaluru, Dec 10: Senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojary on Thursday December 10 hit out at the union government over the controversial National Herald case and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was misusing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) out of political vendetta. He also took potshots at BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, the petitioner in the National Herald case, saying that he alone was enough to 'destroy' the BJP.
Addressing a press meet at the district Congress office here, Poojary said, "In democracy legislature, executive, judiciary and press are given great importance and protection. For democracy to survive, these four pillars are very important and they should be strong. Any government which is in power should know how to run the parliament. Opposition party also has responsibility. Important incidents that take place in the country should be discussed in the parliament and right decision taken. It is the responsibility of the government. If no action has been taken to solve the issue, then there is no meaning to democracy.
"Experts, scholars and artistes have raised the issue of intolerance, and so also industrialists. In spite of the issue being raised in the parliament, there has been no action. Who is spreading intolerance in the nation? It is the Sangh Parivar which is a subsidiary of BJP. Cabinet ministers in your (BJP) government are spreading intolerance by giving provocative speeches. In spite all of these you have not taken any action," he charged.
"Chief ministers and former union ministers of the opposition party are implicated in cases without valid reasons. Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh's residence was raided by Enforcement Directorate on the morning of his daughter's marriage. When the same Enforcement Directorate said there was no violation, you (BJP) changed the ED director and conducted the raid. Enforcement Directorate comes under your government. In spite of so many incidents why are you (Modi) not talking. It is not right to misuse the Enforcement Directorate," he said.
Addressing himself to PM Modi, he said, "It was you and your party people who spoke about Congress-free nation. You want to wipe out the party which bought independence to the nation. We never spoke about RSS and BJP-free nation. You have misused Enforcement Directorate. Have you read sec 25? Enforcement Directorate is below you and you removed its director because Subramanian Swamy told you to do so. Is this not political vendetta? This is Subramanian Swamy's character. He alone is sufficient to destroy your BJP."
On the controversial Yettinahole project, he said, "The local MP (Nalin Kumar Kateel) has still notgot time to raise the issue in parliament or to meet union ministers. However, we know the Prime Minister is not available. These people are just doing drama and nothing else. If you have to attack those who are in support of this project, it should be those two former chief ministers."
On being asked about rebel candidates from Congress in the MLC elections, he said, "The party runs on certain principles. We should try our best until the last minute, and if we do not get the ticket then we should simply move on. Not everyone can be given the ticket, but certain discipline should be maintained. Going against the party is not acceptable, even if it was done by my children. Even last night I had called and told Harikrishna Bantwal to take back the candidature, but he did not agree. Still there is time, let them take back their nominations."