Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SB)

Mangaluru, Feb 12: Election for the 17th Lok Sabha is fast approaching, and the leaders of various political parties who have been desirous of contesting the election have started to convey about their eagerness to enter election fray as party candidates to their party chiefs. 

In an exclusive interview given to Walter Nandalike, editor-in-chief, Daijiworld, B K Hariprasad, former congress general secretary and Bengaluru-based veteran Congress leader, openly expressed his desire to contest the upcoming election as a Congress candidate. 

Born in Dakshina Kannada district and brought up at Bengaluru, Hariprasad entered politics during his student days. He says that the incidents of attacks and driving away of the people of South India origin, especially from Mangaluru, by Shiva Sena activists, brought him into public life and then he chose Congress party for undertaking social work.

Having handled various positions of responsibility in Congress, Hariprasad has a strong say in the party high command. He is very close to the top leadership of the party too. As per political analysts, his name figures in the list of aspirants for Lok Sabha election from Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha seat. But in the interview, he did not clarify whether he is particular about being fielded from Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha seat.  Clearly he says he is an aspirant for Lok Sabha ticket and including Dakshina Kannada he has given six other options which he has already conveyed to the party leadership. 

In response to a question on his last controversial statement on BJP national president, Amit Shah, Hariprasad claimed that he had never used abusive language or bad words about Amit Shah. He said that it was a colloquial translation of swine flu and it was right too. At the same time, he reminds about  Prime Minister's 'widow' comment about Sonia Gandhi as an example to show how BJP leaders have been trying to defame opposition leaders by using foul language.

Justifying the Sonia Gandhi’s 'Maut Ka Saudagar' remarks on Gujarat, he said “Narendra Modi led BJP government allowed massacre of certain community and it continued for about 3 months . They killed an ex MP brutally by cutting his hands and legs. They burnt the pregnant women without any mercy . Then they justified it as 'Rajadharma'. So there is no fault in calling Gujarat as 'Maut Ka Saudagar'. But Congress party succeeded in stopping anti-Sikh riots within a week. The incidents that happened during these riots are condemnable,”

In a 30-minute interview, he tried to attack BJP and expose the failures of the union government. He expressed clear-cut opinion about the reservation bill which was recently passed by the government and explained the stand of his party.  At the same time he praised party's national president, Rahul Gandhi, and explained the political strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha poll.

Watch full interview: