Pics: Joshwa D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JD)

Mangaluru, Nov 17: "How can the chief minister and the Congress party celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi when 133 taluks of Karnataka are facing drought?" questioned veteran Congress leader Janardhan Poojary.

Addressing a press meet here on Thursday November 17, Poojary, in reply to a question regarding invitation to the upcoming Congress convention on Indira Gandhi's centenary birth anniversary celebrations, hit out at chief minister Siddaramaiah for holding such celebrations instead of helping farmers in the state.

Taking a strong dig at Siddaramaiah, he said, "Can you (Siddaramaiah) come down to Mangaluru just because this place is not affected by drought and hold such a grand celebration? Your ministers will be coming here showing their ignorance about the drought situation. If you come here I will not spare you. Instead, you and your ministers must visit the drought-affected areas and help the farmers. Are you not aware of the fact that so many farmers in Mandya have lost their lives because of drought?" he questioned.

Asked if he would attend the celebrations, he said he would not. "If Indira Gandhi were alive even she would not have such a celebration in the state," he said.

On whether he would attend the inauguration of the new Congress office at Mallikatta, Poojary said he would think about it and would give his share of donation too.

"General elections to be declared by December 30"

Poojary predicted that the Prime Minister may declare the general elections along with the elections of states and all panchayats by December 30. "The Prime Minister wants to take the benefit of the demonetisation move and continue to be in the power. So he will declare the elections at the earliest.

"He is not ready to face questions from the opposition leaders in the Parliament. Has the Parliament lost its importance in democracy? Why then is the Prime Minister not attending the winter session and instead giving statements from foreign countries. He has lost his credibility. He must go to the Parliament and listen to the leaders of the opposition. He is the Prime Minister of every person in the country and not only of the BJP," Poojary said.

"Holding elections at national, state and panchayat levels simultaneously will save money and time for the nation as every now and then there is some election or the other and development is stunted. It would be a good decision to hold all the elections together and this can be expected from Modi," he said.

Arrest Janardhan Reddy if you have guts: Poojary to Modi

Poojary further said that whichever politician attended mining baron Janardhan Reddy's daughter's wedding was 'devoid of values' and was also 'part of the crime Janardhan Reddy has committed and is committing'.

"Reddy was behind the bars on corruption and graft charges and Modi influenced the CBI officials to release him on bail. You (Modi) used to call CBI a Congress Bureau of Investigation. I call it 'BJP Bureau of Investigation'. Arrest Janardhan Reddy if you have the guts," he challenged the PM.

Congress leaders Arun Coelho, Kallige Taranath Shetty and others were present.