Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK/SP)

Mangaluru, Jan 30: Addressing a press conference at the Press Club here on Monday January 30, former union minister, Janardhan Poojary, bemoaned the fact that a veteran and versatile leader like former chief minister of Karnataka, S M Krishna, had quit Congress party.

Hailing Krishna as a proactive leader of the party who was not driven by any bias about anyone or anything, he termed him as a good human being and good leader who had mastery over his words. He felt that the Congress party was not justified in treating a leader of Krishna's stature and calibre shabbily. "I subscribe to the view that he was sidelined in the party because he has openly said so. During the press conference, there were times when he got emotional. His wife was there to witness the agony her husband was going through. His wife has been his greatest strength, and she has always stood by Krishna's side," he stated.

"We can understand by the way Krishna, who is always calm and composed, lost his composure, that he has been deeply hurt. We have to remember the contributions he made to the state, country, and the party. I strongly feel that his decision to quit the party was not right. I would have joined hands with Krishna in his fight against this evil," Poojary felt.

The veteran Congress leader came down heavily on Karnataka chief minister, Siddaramaiah, and minced no words in deriding him. He said that Siddaramaiah has been intoxicated by power, pride, and egotism and that he is a curse for the Congress. "Our party can hope to have a bright future in the state if he quits the party," he thundered. At the same time, Poojary urged senior leaders of the party like Jaffer Sharief and Prakash Hukkeri not to depart from Congress.

Poojary said that during her meeting with Krishna sometime back, Sonia Gandhi had asked Krishna not to quit the party. He felt that the senior leader took a hasty decision in leaving the party, without respecting the advice of the party's national president. He added that Sonia Gandhi had no other option left now but to accept the resignation reluctantly and thank Krishna for his long-standing contributions to the party. "I sincerely urge Krishna to desist from joining any other political party. I feel he will someday repent his decision, having realized that it was wrong on his part to quit the party. Sonia Gandhi will open the doors of the Congress for him again and give him an opportunity to carry on with his second innings," he felt.

Janardhan Poojary warned Krishna about the fact that opposition parties are eagerly awaiting a chance to finish his political career once and for all. "If you join the opposition parties, they will draw strength from you. But later, they will hatch a conspiracy to bring an end to your political career. Be wary of them," he advised.