Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, Nov 9: Senior Congress leader B Janardhan Poojary on Monday November 9 said that the defeat of BJP and its allies in the Bihar elections was a lesson to all, including the Prime Minister, all chief ministers and to himself, and that the PM should 'correct' his 'mistakes'.

Addressing a press meet at the district Congress office, Poojary said, "Bihar elections result is a lesson to everyone, not only to the Prime Minister but to the chief ministers of all states as well. It is a lesson for me also. It has taught a lesson right down to the panchayat level.

"People of Bihar have given a mandate on how politicians should behave. When you get power, it should not go to your head. Nation is important, not religion, caste or creed. Every vote cast by the people expects development and not the politics of hatred. In this regard, the people of Bihar have given their answer. People's movement started in Bihar and this is an addition to it," he said.

"This time Bihar has shown the way to the whole nation. It is sad if the policitians do not understand this. Today we want peace in the society. By creating hatred, nation will not survive. I congratulate and salute the people of Bihar," he said.

Referring to the Sangh Parivar and the BJP, he said, "The Sangh Parivar should understand and introspect why they have lost. If they do not, then BJP will be completely destroyed. BJP and Sangh people are always are giving statements such as 'go to Pakistan', 'they should be killed' and 'it is written in the Vedas that beef eaters should be killed' etc. Giving these kinds of wrong statements and creating confusion in the minds of the people will spoil peace in society. This should stop. Tolerance is very important. When media says you are going wrong, it is for your betterment. Correct your mistakes when you go wrong. When I was minister, when the media said I was wrong, I corrected myself. Today there is a need for you to correct your mistakes.

"Even now I am not saying the PM should give resignation - that is not the answer. Rather, he should correct his mistakes. I do not have hatred towards the Prime Minister, but his style of functioning is not right. When scientists, actors, and literary figures protested against him, why did he not call them and ask where he was going wrong. Tolerance is important, that is what they said. For development, tolerance is essential. If there is no peace in the country, how will you develop it? I want the government to run for five years. You (Modi) are the PM of this nation, and you are PM for me also. Protecting the democracy is your responsibility. Only then will the nation survive," Poojary said.

Addressing himself to Prime Minister Modi further, he said, "Farmers are committing suicide, but you have not given even a single statement on it. You have not visited a single farmer's house - what is wrong with you? Instead of solving the problems of farmers, you were giving speeches in Bihar. The people of Bihar have given the right answer to you. Many BJP and RSS leaders wanted this result in Bihar. Shatrugan Sinha is talking against you (Modi) and you are trying to remove him because he is talking the truth. He is a good person, I know him. When I was the MP, he also was MP. You came to power in the name of Ram. Do not do the work of Ravana," he added.

Moving on to state issues, he spoke on Yettinahole project and said, "What has happened to chief minister Siddaramaiah? We do not want Yettinahole project. Students have come to the roads and protested. Because of Sadananda Gowda and Veerappa Moily, the CM wants to sacrifice Karnataka. They are doing this for power, to gain votes. Give a permanent solution to the people, I know the CM is capable of doing it. We are all with you (CM Siddaramaiah). If you continue with Yettinahole project, Congress in Karnataka will see the same fate as BJP in Bihar.

"BJP leaders protesting here rather than going to Delhi. Let BJP take all its 19 MPs to Delhi and include Congress MPs too. Let them meet the PM and explain the situation to him. The PM is not talking on Mahadeyi issue and he has not given a single statement - why is he silent?" he added

Referring to the bribery allegations against Anjaneya's wife, without naming the minister, he said, "State BJP chief Prahlad Joshi is demanding resignation. I want to Joshi, did his brother not face allegations? Former CM Jagadish Shettar, Eshwarappa and many more ministers of the former state BJP cabinet faced allegations - but did they give resignation? What moral right do they have to demand resignation now? They should lead by example."

To a question on whether Congress would emulate the Bihar coalition model in other states too, he said, "Congress had 416 seats in the Lok Sabha when Rajiv Gandhi was the PM, and now we have come down to 44 seats. So there is a need to ponder."

Asked to comment on the recent Prashant Poojary murder case, he said, "When Hindu-Muslim clashes occur, cases are filed against minorities and backward communities like Billawas. Brahmins and Konkanis do not involve in such acts, and I congratulate their parents. We all need to learn from them. By fighting nothing is going to happen. We have to live in peace. I saw Prashant's mother crying on TV, and it feels bad when a boy from our community is murdered. We do not want hatred. I have been saying this from past 40 years."

Regarding the controversy surround the celebration of Tipu Jayanti, he said, "In Kollur Temple there is Tipu Sultan arati, so such a person cannot be anti-Hindu. When the British asked Tipu to pay Rs 3 crore, he sacrificed his sons. All the people of the kingdom collected Rs 3 crore for Tipu, but he did not take that money and instead gave away his sons. How can such a person be anti-national? Media needs to make people who are against Tipu understand the good work done by him."