Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, May 9: Senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojary on Wednesday May 9 came to the strong defence of MLA J R Lobo and expressed confidence that all Congress candidates in Dakshina Kannada would win the elections by a huge margin.
Addressing a press meet here, Poojary said, "All Congress candidates in this district will win by a huge margin. In Bantwal, Ramanath Rai would emerge victorious with a record-breaking margin."
He accused the BJP of spreading false rumours about Congress candidate J R Lobo. "BJP is spreading false rumours that J R Lobo is against the Bunts community in Light House Hill road naming issue. But this false propaganda will not work and Lobo will win without any doubt," he said.
"Congress has given many opportunities to the Bunts community. Many were honoured with major posts in various sectors. Congress has given many opportunities to my community (Billawa) also. My party is not doing discrimination on the basis of community and religion.
"J R Lobo is following the Congress party's principles, so no one can defeat him. The false allegations against him will not work in this election. So please stop the negativity publicity," he said.
"Siddaramaiah-led government will retain power. In the past I warned him about his administration. He corrected himself and worked for the welfare of the people. So he will become the CM for a second time. The moment he stops thinking about the people, he will lose elections," he added.
Asked to respond to Harikrishna Bantwal's statement that Congress had insulted Janardhan Poojary, he said, "No one can insult me. Such things have never happened in my life. People know who is Poojary and who is Harikrishna Bantwal. They are intelligent. They will not believe Harikrishna Bantwal if he uses my name to seek votes for BJP."
To a question on meeting RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat at Kudroili temple recently, he said, "Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat visited Kudroli temple, so I welcomed him. We do not have the right to stop anyone from visiting a temple, church or mosque. I will welcome him to my house also. He is also a creation of the Almighty. I will treat him on humanity grounds."
He further said that it did not come to his notice whether Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat had insulted Tulunadu's 'Daiva'. "If he did insult, it is wrong," he said.
Asked to comment Congress ticket allotment to Ashok Kheny, Anand Singh and H Y Meti, he said, "It is wrong. I am not with them on this matter."
MLA J R Lobo, former MLA Vijaykumar Shetty, Mohammed Masood, U B Venkatesh and Shashidhar Hegde were present.