Pics: Joshwa D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JD)

Mangaluru, Dec 19: In a strongly-worded protest over the sensational National Herald case, MLC Ivan D'Souza on Saturday December 19 lashed out at BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and termed him 'BJP's dog', while district in-charge minister Ramanath Rai called Swamy a 'pyscho'.

He was addressing a protest in front of the DC's office here against the BJP-led union governemnt over the National Herald issue in which Congress national president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi along with Rajya Sabha member Oscar Fernandes and some others are named.

Ivan said, "Even my dog does not believe Subramanian Swamy. What morality does Swamy have to reopen the National Herald case which had been closed? He is the agent of the BJP party and also the party's pet dog. He is trying to demolish the Congress party by fixing the party leaders in various cases. A few months ago he had raised the issue of Rahul's citizenship but has not been able to prove anything. He has raised many issues but in none of the cases people have been convicted. It is just politics of vengeance.

"The National Herald newspaper took birth during the struggle for independence in 1938. Many leaders of the Congress party have contributed for its growth and even the party has contributed Rs 90 crore for this purpose. Is it a mistake to save a newspaper which has been part of the fourth pillar of the democracy?" he questioned.

Slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the MLC said, "During the Bihar polls the Prime Minister lavishly spent the taxpayers' money and humiliated Indians with various statements. The main motive of the Prime Minister is to make Adani and Amit Shah rich. The Congress did not let Adani and others snatch farmers' lands. Hence the BJP is trying to fix the Congress leaders in various cases. If Sonia Gandhi and Rahul go to jail then all the party workers will also voluntarity go to jail. I request BJP to stop this revenge politics," he said.

Forest and ecology minister and in-charge minister of Dakshina Kannada Ramanath Rai also lashed out at BJP and Subramanian Swamy. "By re-opening the case, the BJP and Swamy are humiliating the people who strived for India's independence. It is a clear example of revenge politics. Subramannian Swamy has lost his mental balance. He is a psycho. All his allegations are false. He just wants to send Rahul and Sonia to jail. The district Congress strongly condemns this. There is a need to create nationwide awareness against this kind of malicious campaign. If Sonia and Rahul go to jail then the BJP will lose power at the centre - such will be the agitation," Rai said.

AICC member P V Mohan also spoke on the occasion. "Subramannian Swamy is a mad dog. The then prime minister A B Vajpayee himself had called Swamy a CIA agent.

"The National Herald is not the ancestoral property of Subramanian Swamy or Modi. It is the property of Congress leaders who strived for India's independence. So what if the Congress party runs a newspaper? Even the BJP runs a few newspapers but has the Congress questioned it? We are not afraid of anyone. I urge all the party workers to undertake jail bharo movement if Rahul and Sonia go to jail," P V Mohan said.

District Women's Congress president Mamatha Gatty, KPCC member P Mohammed, DCC interim president Ibrahim Kodijal, Sevadal president K Ashraf and others were present.