Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Feb 18: Birthi Rajesh Shetty Birthi, who recently resigned from the post of president of Brahmavar block Congress in protest against the expulsion of former MP Jayaprakash Hegde from the party, on Thursday February 18 lashed out at former MLA and Congressman U R Sabhapati for stating that J P Hegde had become non-existent.
Addresing a press meet here, Birthi Rajesh Shetty, Gopal Bangera, Vinay Kumar Kabiyadi, Vikas Shetty and Prithviraj Amin came out in strong support of J P Hegde and predicted that Congress would be defeated in the upcoming elections.
Shetty said, "Sabhapati should explain what he means by losing existence. He himself jumped from party to party whenever he was lured with money. He himself has become non-existent. Even senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojary has said that J P Hegde is a sincere leader.
"We should give a call to oppose the Congress and defeat it in the coming zilla and taluk panchayat elections at all costs," he added.
"The Congress has a stronghold in Brahmavar, Perdoor and Kallianpur panchayats, but all that is happening, it is doubful that Congress domination in these places would continue. Out of nine taluk panchayat seats in Brahmavar, Congress had won 7, but this time it will not win more than two seats," he said.
The others in the press meeet alleged that Congress had lured voters with BPL cards and ration cards, but now the BPL cards of those who are getting higher electricity bills were getting cancelled. "Why is Congress cheating the public with false promises and lies? Even the issue related to 9,11 forms is not solved as claimed. The gram panchayats have received no notification to cancel 9,11 forms, instead they have got notification to upgrade computers," they claimed.
"Even Kumki rights have not been given, and regularization of unauthorised land under akrama-sakrama is also pending," they added.
On reports about their support to BJP, they said, "We are not supporting BJP. Our main aim is to defeat the Congress. The party is neglecting senior leaders and sincere workers are not given their due. J P Hegde does not talk ill about anyone."
Vinay Kumar Kabiyadi said, "Sabhapati goes wherever there is money. He is doing all sorts of gimmicks. J P Hegde after coming to Congress brought it out of its slumber and developed the party. He met people by going to each booth. The present MLA and minister lack experience, and roads in Brahmavar are an example to this. There is no development in the constituency.
"In Congress everyone is trying to pull each other down," he alleged.