Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Jun 14: Former minister and senior Congress leader Ramanath Rai on Thursday, June 14 said that Congress won lesser seats in the Assembly elections due to BJP's false propaganda about the party.
Addressing media here, Rai said, “Congress became the victim of BJP's false propaganda in the recent state elections. District ministers and the state government had done good development works. We had reached the public through our development works as well as with several people-friendly schemes. Even then, we ended on the losing side. BJP's false propaganda turned out to be negative for Congress.
“I undertook so many development works in my constituency and worked sincerely. But BJP kept spreading false rumours about me and my work. Even during the withdrawal of grants for the students of Kalladka and Punacha schools, BJP people were spreading false propaganda on the issue. They themselves submitted a letter rejecting the mid-day meal programme from the government. Both the schools approached the department in the end of May this year seeking to be covered under the free lunch programme of the government from the new academic year,”
"SDPI was involved in the Sharath Madiwala murder case at BC Road. But the BJP held me responsible for the murder, claiming that I was supporting SDPI. I have been continuously stating about SDPI’s involvement in the particular murder case. When SDPI did it, how was I held responsible for it? Five murders took place in my constituency. Except Sharath Madiwala, rest of the murder culprits belonged to Sangh Parivar,” Rai informed.
“Surendra Bantwal, who flashed swords at Baddakatte on June 11, is being projected as my close aide. Has anyone seen me with Surendra Bantwal? If he was a close aide of mine, he would have joined me in any of my press conferences or party programmes. I can say that Bhuvith Shetty, who was involved in the incident, is the right hand of MLA Rajesh Naik,” he said.
Attacking the central government, Ramanath Rai said, "Price of fuel is skyrocketing. No one received Rs 15 lac as promised by PM Modi and instead of waiving farmers’ loans, the central government prefers to waive the loans of businessmen. The country is witnessing severe economic crisis,”
"The preparation for upcoming Lok Sabha elections is on full swing. We are striving hard to get back to power,” he said.
District Congress president Harish Kumar, MCC chief whip Shashidhar Hegde, mayor Bhaskar Moily, corporator Praveen Chandra Alva and others were present.