Mangaluru: “Former union minister B Janardhan Poojary doesn’t have proper knowledge of the Rafale Jet Deal by the NDA-led union government which has led him to make a statement favouring Prime Minister Narendra Modi”, said Senior Congress leader V R Sudarshan.
Speaking to the reporters at the District Congress office on Saturday, March 16, after releasing a handbook on Rafale Deal in order to create awareness among the public, Sudarshan said, “Rafale Deal is a big scam of Rs 58,000 Crore. The Modi government has helped businessman Anil Ambani through the Rafale Deal, which was a lifeline for the latter’s Reliance Group. In order to favour Ambani’s Reliance group, Modi refused to give permission to HAL, despite it having a greater experience in producing aircraft”, he said.
Sudarshan alleged that Modi government has been indulging in corruption contrary to its promise of a corruption-free administration.
“BJP has taken the issue of airstrike by Indian Air Force (IAF) during this Lok Sabha election as they don’t have any other welfare programmes to show for votes. Janardhan Poojary might have been unaware of the corruption by Modi government while praising Modi”, he said.
I don’t give importance to Poojary’s statement: Ivan D’Souza
Chief Minister’s Parliamentary Secretary Ivan D’Souza released a list of 28 questionnaires for Modi government which comprises what BJP had assured before assuming power and which factors prevented it from fulfilling the promises. After releasing the questionnaires, Ivan also backed V R Sudarshan’s view on Poojary’s statement. “Lack of knowledge might be the reason for Poojary’s statement. I don’t give any importance to his statement. My intention is to defeat the BJP government”, he said.
Meanwhile, Ivan clarified, “I did not prevent Siddaramaiah from going to Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara temple when he was in the city, a year ago. However, Poojary might have thought that I had prevented Siddaramaiah from going there. I did nothing wrong and I will leave this issue before God to decide”, he said.
Ivan informed that Congress is ready to participate in the open discussion on Rafale Deal and that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP leaders should set a forum for it.
District Congress Committee President and MLC Hareesh Kumar, former MLAs Shakunthala Shetty, J R Lobo and other leaders like Ibrahim Kodijal, M S Mohammed, B H Khader, Vasudev Boloor, Kallige Tharanath Shetty and Haneef among others were present.
