Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/SP)

Udupi, Apr 8: Addressing a press meet here on Monday April 8, district BJP president, Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde, criticised the manifesto released by the Congress, pointing out that it supports terrorism and treason. He noted with concern the fact that Congress has recommended for bringing amendments to Sedition Act.

"Congress has no dearth of intellectuals. They have knowledgeable men like Shashi Tharoor, Kapil Sibal etc. Still, I fail to understand why the party wants to support acts of treason?" Hegde wondered. He felt that this is part of a bigger conspiracy on the part of Congress party to cede a large chunk of the country to Pakistan. He said that the manifesto looks like having been inspired by Pakistan and its aim appears to be sacrificing the interests of the nation.

He noted that instead of feeling proud of the Balakot strike by our armed forces, Congress leaders wanted to count the corpses. He accused the party of willing to let go of the country's interests for its own agenda. "When UPA government was in power, our military had no power to take independent decisions. Narendra Modi has given our security forces a free hand to take decisions and execute them. He has strengthened our defence forces and their morale, he stated.

Hegde urged the people to carefully go through Congress manifesto again and cogitate on whom to vote.

On the question of Jayaprakash Hegde not being given Lok Sabha ticket, Hegde said that Jayaprakash Hegde has been with the party leaders in all kinds of campaigning. He stressed that there are no differences whatsoever. On the notion that fishermen will support Pramod Madharaj, he insisted that the fishermen have always been with the BJP. He said that the central government did everything to find the missing 'Suvarna Tribhuja' boat but failed to find it. "We are prepared to do anything to help them out in this issue. No one can snatch away out vote banks. Fishermen do not change their loyalties and they do not support party hoppers," he remarked.

About Shobha Karandlaje's victory chances, Hegde said she had won last time with a margin of 1.8 lac votes and the margin of victory as per estimation this time would be 3.5 lac. "We are undertaking the best and most effective forms of propaganda. We undertake three-layered campaigns. Each of our groups visit l80 to 90 houses everyday seeking votes of people through door to door campaigns. We also arrange meetings of intellectuals. We also meet people who are positive, and who wield influence in the society and seek their support," he explained.

Noting that about 60,000 to 70,000 young voters have been added this time, he felt that at least 70 percent of them will come to BJP. Hegde explained that national joint general secretary, B L Santhosh, will be addressing a meeting of intellectuals at Country Inn hotel at Manipal on April 11. "On the same day, he will address a election meeting at Ajjarkad. There will be a bicycle rally starting at 4 pm on April 12 at Malpe and culminate near the BJP office at Kadiyali. This rally will be led by Mahesh Thakur," he stated.

Hegde said that BJP leaders are feeling pity and pain at the current state of Congress party which was once robust and solid. The party should not have hit such a low ebb, he felt, adding that Congress has reached such a situation that it could not even put up its own candidate in Udupi - Chikkamagaluru constituency.

BJP leaders, Yashpal Suvarna, Praveen Kappettu and Kuilady Suresh Nayak, were present.