Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (DV)
Beltangady, May 26: After former Hindu organisation leaders Satyajith Surathkal and Praveen Valke slammed Beltangady BJP MLA Harish Poonja for questioning their 'Hindutva' during the recent BJP victory celebration in Beltangady on May 22, Rashtriya Hindu Jagarana Vedike leader Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi lambasted Poonja over the same and said, "Harish Poonja has no morality to question our Hindutva."
Addressing a press meet at Press Club in Beltangady here on Friday, May 26, Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi leader said, "Several anti-Hindu activities have taken place in the taluk after Poonja assumed office as MLA of Beltangady. Poonja has created a forum for us to expose his anti-Hindu activities and immorality by questioning the credibility of our Hindutva. In the previous election, when former MLA Vasanth Bangera approached to tell he will contest the polls, a few supporters of Poonja claimed that Mahesh Shetty is in the Congress. These supporters of Poonja are not concerned about Hindutva. Wearing a saffron shawl is not Hindutva. It is not Dharma. They do not know how sacred saffron is.
"After Poonja became the MLA, several incidents of conversions and cattle slaughters are continuously taking place in the taluk. Cattle are transported from his office itself. BJP leader Mandi Ganesh is involved in cattle transportation. Poonja has divided the taluk on the basis of castes. He has divided the society on the basis of religion and community.
"I have worked for the welfare of the society. I have never indulged in any anti-social work. From the year 1992 till the date, I am working for the welfare of the Hindu society. After a severe struggle for three years, the BJP's vote share has increased in the taluk. Then, this Poonja was a 'Baccha'. I made him a leader," he claimed.
Thimarodi further said, "A person who does not have any morality is questioning us and our Hindutva. Should I, Satyajith or Praveen Valke, prove our Hindutva to an immature man? If he had guts, he would have questioned our Hindutva, 10 days before the elections. We have sacrificed our life for Hindutva.
"An MLA should gain faith in the society and work for the Sanatana Dharma. Winning the elections by spending money is not Dharma. Those who purchase votes for money are anti-nationals. Poonja, speaks about Hindutva, but his followers are consuming beef.
"Poonja claims that land should not be given to Muslims and Malayali Christians. Those who slaughter cattle are now workers of the BJP, under the blessings of Poonja. He is a sinner who brought threat to the sacredness of Hindu religion. He is destroying the religion," he said.
Slamming the police department, Thimarodi questioned why the police department failed to register a suo moto case against Poonja for his remarks against chief minister Siddaramaiah. “Why did the police fail to do so? Why Siddaramaiah failed to send him to jail? Siddaramaiah should put Harish Poonja behind the bars and prove that he has not committed the murder of 24 Hindus. Or else he has to resign from the post of chief minister. Disqualify Poonja from the position of an MLA. When the MLA gives such statements, we too think that Siddaramaiah has committed such a crime. If Poonja is not sent to jail, we will start agitating in the taluk thinking Poonja's statement is right.
“Those who voted Poonja are fools and do not have morality. I challenge your Hindutva. If such fools are voted to power, the taluk and country will never prosper,” he said.