Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network-Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Jun 9: Former MLA and senior Congress leader Vijay Kumar Shetty came down heavily on former president of the Puttur block Congress, Kavu Hemanath Shetty, for his remarks on former union minister Janardhana Poojary. Vijay Kumar asked “Who is Hemanath to talk about Poojary?”
Vijay Kumar Shetty was speaking in a press meet held at Dakshina Kannada district Congress office in city on Thursday, June 9.
On Tuesday, Hemanath had criticised Poojary heavily which was one of the rarest verbal attacks Poojary has ever received in his long political career that too from his own party member.
“Poojary has been in Congress since the time of Indira Gandhi. He was union minister. He was AICC member for several years and he has held many positions in the party. His contribution to the land is only second to Srinivasa Mallya. Poojary is a mass leader also. All his life, Poojary has worked for the poor. His stature is so big and a person like Hemanath cannot question him in any way,” Vijay Kumar said.
“Who is Hemanath after all in Congress? He is more known for his anti-party activities than any significant contribution to the party. He worked against Vinay Kumar Sorake when he stood for elections. He worked against Sankappa Rai, Bondala Jagannath Shetty, Sudhakar Shetty and Shakunthala Shetty. How to trust him?” Vijay Kumar added.
“Janardhan Poojary helped Hemanath Shetty to become block president. Poojary also helped Hemanath’s wife to become zilla panchayat (ZP) member. How can Hemanath forget these things?” he questioned.
“Hemanath says that Poojary lost elections many times. It is not that Hemanath gave him Congress party ticket to contest from his house. Poojary got it from AICC. By criticizing a leader of Poojary’s calibre, Hemanth has indirectly attacked and insulted AICC.” Vijay Kumar said.
“Poojary lost because his own party leaders worked against him. Everyone knows who they are. Only Poojary could have stopped Yethinahole project if he was MP. Hemanath says he is going to wave black flags against Poojary in Puttur. Let him instead do it against D V Sadananda Gowda and Veerappa Moily who are against the district and pro Yethinahole. We are all aware that Hemanath Shetty is not talking but Veerappa Moily is talking through him. Hemanth is a person who brought a terrorism accused Madani to Puttur for a speech.” Vijay Kumar said.
“We have learned that a delegation has gone to Bengaluru to meet chief minister Siddaramaih to complain about Poojary. The delegation has MLC Ivan D’Souza, mayor Harinath and MUDA president Ibrahim Kodijal in it.” he revealed.
Former deputy mayor Puroshotham Chitrapur, T K Sudhir, Appi, Lancelot Pinto, Deepak Poojary and Ishwar Ullal were present in the press meet.