Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Sep 9: Congress leader and local municipal councillor, Muhammed Ali, addressing a press meet here on Saturday September 8, held former MLA, Shakuntala Shetty, responsible for shifting of the weekly market of the town from Kille Maidan to APMC yard. "If she terms this as falsehood, I challenge her to take religious vow to that affect in any of the temples," he said.

"Shakuntala Shetty pressurized the then sub-divisional officer here to shift the weekly market which used to be convened at Kille Maidan to the distant APMC yard. When I resisted this move, the then MLA stood her ground firmly. Therefore, the municipality had no other option but to agree to her decision. However, when dispute arose over the shifting of this market, the municipality had to take the blame. We resisted the urge to bring the truth out before the people as our own party's MLA would have faced discomfiture,” he added.

Shakuntala Shetty

“If Shakuntala, who denied ticket to many of us, had been able to secure win for our party in the municipal election, we would still have allowed the matter get a decent burial. But the party faced ignominious debacle in the election. Still, the group of the former MLA continues to place the blame on us," he stated.

Ali said that finally he had to tell the truth, as Shakuntala was the one who was responsible for the party leaders to spend sleepless nights for six months with her decision on shifting of weekly market. "She was the one who brought disrepute to Congress rule with her move. We had to struggle a lot to come out of this situation. If I am telling lies in this matter, I will be liable for any punishment the Lord in whom I believe, awards to me for the sin," he announced.

Party leaders, Usha Dhananjay Acharya, Koragappa Gowda, Jagadish Kaje, Haneef Punchattar etc were present.