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

Mangaluru, Feb 10: Slamming the BJP-led union government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former union minister and Congress leader Janardhana Poojary on Wednesday February 10 questioned the PM's silence even after the conspirator of 26/11 Mumbai attacks David Headley spoke about the role of Pakistan in the attacks.

Addressing media persons at the district Congress office, Poojary said, "Prior to the general elections the BJP and the Prime Minister had said that they would give strong answer to Pakistan after they come to power. But I question the Prime Minister as to why is he keeping mum even after David Headley has given statements about the role of Pakistan in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Why can't he ask his counterpart from Pakistan Nawaz Sharif to take action against the terrorists in Pakistan? These statements are more than enough to demand action but the Prime Minister is still silent. Is this the strong answer you promised? You have to answer the people of this country."

Claiming that the shares owned by Gujarat chief minister's son had risen steeply despite the share market being down, he said, "The prices of essential commodities have touched the skies. The people of the country have lost hopes in the union government. The share market has fallen but the shares of the companies owned by the Gujarath chief minister's son Shwethank Patel have increased in profit by 180 percent. How can the shares of any company which was in loss for 23 years suddenly gain such huge profits after the BJP came to power at the center? This is the clear example of misuse of power. It is clear that the Prime Minister has betrayed the people of this country."

"Humanitarian deed by Modi, mistake by Siddaramaiah"

Poojary appreciated Prime Minister Modi for visiting the hospital in Delhi where Siachen avalance survivor Lance Naik Hanumananthappa is being treated and termed it a humanitarian deed."

When questioned as to why chief minister Siddaramaiah had not visited Hanumanthappa's house , he said Siddaramaiah had committed a mistake by not doing so. "The CM later realized his mistake and called up the soldier's house and extended his support," he said.

He then termed Modi an 'autocrat' and said, "Modi is destabilizing the federal system of the government. He is not taking the opinions of chief ministers of the states or even the opposition parties into consideration. This has been quoted by the New York Times daily which once appreciated Modi and it has also quoted that his popularity has come down due to right-wing outfits and the Sangh Parivar.

He also questioned Modi as to why the office of the Prime Minister had been excluded from the RTI Act. "Modi had come to power saying he would give a non-corrupt government, then why has he kept his office out of the purview of the RTI Act? He has also not implemented the Jan Lokpal. It shows that the great movement for Jan Lokpal undertaken by Anna Hazare has no value," he said.

Former mayors of MCC Hilda Alva and Mahabala Maarla, Mangaluru south block Congress president Balakrishna Shetty and T K Sudheer were present.