Deshpande is `Bachcha' Before Rahul Gandhi, Says Sriramulu
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bellary, Jul 31: Taking strong objection to Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief R V Deshpande’s derisive remarks against himself and the Bellary Reddy brothers as ``bachchas” in politics, tonsured Health and Family Welfare Minister B Sriramulu on Friday dismissed the former as a ``real bachcha” before Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s son Rahul Gandhi.
"Deshpande cannot claim that he is too big in the party because he is a non-entity before Rahul Gandhi, who himself is a novice in politics,” Sriramulu said the KPCC president should know his limits and standing within the party before commenting on others.
Sriramulu and the Bellary Reddy brothers were taken in a procession by hundreds of party workers in Sirguppa town, 50 kms from Bellary, to awaken the people of the district about the real intention of the Congress leaders who were carrying out ``Bangalore-Bellary Padayatra.”
Refferring to Deshpande’s remarks, ``I have been in politics about four decades. Sriramulu and other BJP leaders from Bellary have been in politics for 5 – 6 years. They are bachchas in politics,” Sriramulu said Deshpande’s decades in politics were nothing before the dynasty in Congress.
Sriramulu also took sharp umbrage at Congress leaders’ making fun of his tonsuring and said it was a sacred ritual practised by people. People punish themselves seeking divine intervention. But the Congress people have no respect to native practice.
The Health and Family Welfare Minister said he had no objection if the Congress leaders belittled him but he would not tolerate if they made fun of Bellary people and their culture.
"I have been in public life over two decades but had no black spot. I will not deceive anybody. I am in politics to serve the people but not to make money as alleged by Congress leaders,” he claimed.
Tourism and infrastructure minister G Janardhana Reddy said Congress leaders would go to any extent to please their leader Sonia Gandhi who was elected from Bellary segment in 1999 Lok Sabha elections. (However she chose to represent Amethi and quit Bellary). Their present march to Bellary was also one such ploy, which the people of the State were aware of, he added.
Janardhana Reddy, who is also in-charge of Bellary district, said: ``We have promised to achieve an overall development of Bellary district. We have initiated series of developmental activities. Come what may, we will keep our word,” he said.
Shirguppa MLA Somlingappa spoke. MLC Mrityunjaya Jinaga, MLAs Suresh Babu and Nagendra, senior BJP leader Dr Mahipal, Bellary Urban Development Authority chairman Gurulinganagouda took part. Earlier, the BJP leaders offered pooja at Takkalkote village temple.