Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Apr 25: In an interesting development, state social welfare minister, Anjaneya, who made a futile attempt to give advice to former union minister, B Janardhana Poojary, on the importance of patience, seemed to have repented later. In response, Poojary launched a scathing attack on Anjaneya and state chief minister (CM), Siddaramaiah, leaving Anjaneya red-faced and helpless.

At the dais of Billawar Bhavan complex inauguration held in the city on Sunday April 24, Anjaneya seemed to have made up his mind in advance to give a dose of advice to Poojary, who has been openly critical of the CM and some minister on certain issues.

Speaking at the function, Anjaneya, when acknowledging that Janardhana Poojary has been an influential leader since the times of Indira Gandhi, noted that Poojary is known for his open criticism and harsh words. "We need people like you in politics. But for some reason, people have not been electing you. They either seem to need people who are liars or do not want leaders who are openly critical. You should therefore own silence till you become victorious, and then begin to speak openly," he advised, addressing Poojary. He added that Poojary had the capacity to change CM in the state at will, and would have been a central minister and a major force in All India Congress Committee if he had owned patience and perseverance. He also felt that Poojary would have become CM of Karnataka before Siddaramaiah but for his habit of openly tackling leaders. Noting that people who are honest and follow high moral values many a time go overboard, and therefore it would be in the interests of the party and government if Poojary restricted himself to passing healthy criticism.

Speaking thereafter, AICC general secretary and Rajya Sabha member, B K Hariprasad, said that Poojary should remain as he is now, duly criticising Anjenaya for trying to give advice to the veteran. "Poojary, who worked for nine years in the finance department of union ministry, and whose political life is without a blemish, is facing defeat because he has chosen not to deviate from the path of truth and honesty. Anjaneya should understand that just because he is a minister he can not dispense advice to everyone else," he said.

Poojary, whose address came next, stated that he had decided to keep mum on this occasion, but said he had changed his mind because of the effort made by Anjaneya to seal his mouth. "Anjaneya is doing good work with commitment. I had supported him to grow since he was in youth Congress. He would have, before leaving for this function, told the CM that he would rebuke Poojary," he felt. He told Anjenaya that he had decided to tell the truth till his last breath, and asked Anjanaya to follow suit and cultivate this habit.

He told Anjaneya that he had praised Siddaramaiah for doing lot of good work and announcing so many schemes for the poor. He added that he had merely advised Siddaramaiah not to sully his own reputation by taking wrong decisions like weakening of the Lokayukta institution by setting up Anti Corruption Bureau, duly reminding the CM that Lokayukta was primarily responsible for sending Yeddyurappa to jail and making Siddaramaiah the CM.

About Anjenaya's advice to get victorious in election and grab power, Poojary said that he had been given a chance four times to become chief minister by Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, adding that he had refused to accept the offer, as he was not prepared to go begging the people for funds. He said that when P V Narasimha Rao was the prime minister, he had arranged a special flight for him, duly adding that he would provide full details of this and other episodes in his autobiography.

Interestingly, as Poojary continued to take both Anjaneya and Siddaramaiah to task in his address, all the Congress leaders present at the dais went away one by one, barring V S Ugrappa.