Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Apr 21: Ex-minister of Tamil Nadu Dr H V Hande termed the enumeration process initiated to determine religion-wise figures of military personnel as shameful. "Our army is the best in the world. The very idea behind conducting such an exercise defies logic. Union defence minister A K Antony is useless," he fumed.

Addressing a press conference convened in the BJP district office here on Monday April 20, he noted that the Indians have been participating in all the fields without any relevance to the religion, caste or creed to which they belong. The very process of segregating the number of army personnel based on religious affiliation is dangerous," he opined.

He also criticized Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi for his shifting stands. The Congress has long held that LTTE is responsible for the death of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Karunanidhi entered into an alliance with the Congress. Now, he claims LTTE chief Prabhakaran to be his close friend. This is nothing but vote-based politics, Hande felt.

"This issue is important for the election in Tamil Nadu. The contrasting stands of the Congress and DMK have confused 4.5 crore voters in Tamil Nadu. Out of 39 Lok Sabha seats in that state, the Congress-DMK alliance will not  get more than 20% seats and the alliance of seven parties of which BJP is a partner, will corner many seats, he predicted. He also felt, the Congress-led alliance would not be able to get more than 45 seats in the south. Hande accused the Congress of blocking Ambedkar's entry into the Lok Sabha and insulting him by bringing innumerable amendments to the constitution authored by him and still trying to chant his name with the hope of garnering some support.

BJP leaders A G Kodgi, MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary, Katpady Shankar Poojary and Thingale Vikramarjun Hegde were present at the press conference.