Pics: Joshwa D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JD)
Mangaluru, Dec 28: Veteran Congress leader and former union minister Janardhan Poojary on Wednesday December 28 demanded public apology from mayor Harinath for stating in a press meet that Poojary had been informed in advance about the hike in property tax under Self Assessment Scheme (SAS).
"The mayor of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) must apologise to the people of this city for lying in the press meet that he had informed me about the hike. This means that the blame of SAS tax hike also falls on me as I seem to have consented, but in reality I have not. Just for political benefits you (mayor) say anything you want. As a politican you feel that you can take anything for granted," said Poojary, addressing a press meet here.
Launching a tirade against his own Congress party, he said, "You have broken your word that you would not raise the self assessment tax, which you had promised during the victory celebration at Nehru Maidan. Were you not aware that you had to hike the tax after coming to power? It is because of the people that you are in power. You can revoke it anytime. So act according to your promise."
On Yettinahole project
Janardhan Poojary also demanded clarification from former chief minister Sadananda Gowda on his statement that 2,000 TMC of water was joining the sea and going waste. "He must show people where is the 2,000 TMC available and the point where he measured it. He must also tell what expertise he possess to measure it.
Ponting at former CM Veerappa Moily, he said, "Another former chief minister says that he will implement the project at any cost. If they (Moily and Gowda) had guts, why did they have to go to another place and stand for elections? Why couldn't they contest from here? History will not pardon these two chief ministers," he said.
Asked to respond to various allegations by former minister V Srinivas Prasad against chief minister Siddaramaiah, he said that the Congress high command still has time to sack Siddaramaiah and make a Dalit leader the chief minister. "The high command can choose between Mallikarjun Kharge and Dr Parameshwar," he said.
When asked if he had received any disciplinary notice from the AICC, he informed that he had not received it till date and probably he might not receive it at all.
"PM should apologise"
Taking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the veteran politician advised Modi to launch an enquiry into the allegations of black money possessed by the BJP before pointing fingers at other political parties. "My intention is that wherever black money is, it must be brought to light and the system cleaned," he said.
"The Prime Minister should apologise for the inconvenience caused by demonetisation as the situation has not improved yet," Poojary added.