Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada Congress President Harish Kumar on April 30, refuted the allegations of the Congress party not giving adequate representation to the Billava community.
At a press conference, Harish Kumar said, “Congress is a party that has given ample opportunities to the Billava community since 1977 when it was the Madras province. The party has given opportunity for Billava leaders from undivided Dakshina Kannada including Doomappa, N M Suvarna, Vasanth Salian, Damodar Mulky, D D Kattemar, Gopal Poojary, Vinay Kumar Sorake, Vasanth Bangera, B K Hariprasad and many other leaders. I also have been fortunate enough to receive the party ticket.”
“Janardhana Poojary, who is a Billava leader, had been the central minister. So on what grounds are the leaders pointing fingers at Congress?”, he questioned.
He further added that the people who knew Janardhana Poojary tried their best to woo him to BJP but when the Congress leader did not budge, they themselves left the party and joined BJP. He also said that the BJP workers had no right to criticise Congress party’s internal matters.
On the issue of Hindutva appeal of the BJP, Harish said, “A person becomes Hindu by birth, and not by becoming a BJP member. Almost all the parties have Hindus in it. So asking votes on Hindutva grounds is not right and is violation of Model Code of Conduct. We have already complained to EC about this. They speak a lot about Hindus when there was death of Hindu activists. If they are really concerned about the activists, then they should have given chance to the kin of the victims to contest the elections.”
About the SDPI aiding the Congress for the elections in Bantwal, Harish said that it was the decision of SDPI party leaders to decide whether to contest or not. Congress doesn’t have a say in the matter, he said.
He also revealed that KPCC Working President D K Shivakumar will be visiting Belthangady and Sullia on May 2 to partake in public meetings. On the same day, former Kerala chief minister and Congress leader Oommen Chandy will be visiting Belthangady, Sajipa and Panambur and will campaign for the party candidates.
Neeraj Pal and others were present.
