Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MH)
Mangaluru, Jul 9: Former minister Ramanath Rai criticized MLA Bharath Shetty during a press meet held at the Congress office in Mallikatte on Tuesday, July 9, over his slap remark about leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.
Addressing the media, Rai said, "Rahul Gandhi's speech in Parliament was misunderstood by BJP leaders, who then misrepresented it to the public. Gandhi emphasized that Hindu society has no place for violence, a sentiment true to our beliefs as Hindus. Despite this, BJP leaders criticized him harshly. Even Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the 46th Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math, stated that there was nothing wrong with what Gandhi said and that those spreading misinformation about his speech should be punished.”
He further said, “Bharath Shetty said Rahul Gandhi should be slapped. I challenge Bharath Shetty to slap any common Congress member first. Such a person is worthless as an MLA. Rahul Gandhi, as an opposition leader, did not speak ill of anyone; he merely stated that violence is not right.
“The BJP is blowing small issues out of proportion and spreading misinformation, like exaggerating the dengue situation despite the Karnataka government handling it well. What about the millions Sudhakar looted during the Covid crisis? Under the UPA, diesel excise duty was Rs 3, but it is now 9 rupees under the NDA government. They divide religion for political gain and threaten the opposition with the CBI. All BJP does is promote violence,” he said.
Mamatha Gatti, Prakash Salian, Subhoday Alva, Naveen D'Souza, and others were present.