“If the Congress government comes to power in the State, it will lift ban on arrack. Besides, the government will also reduce the price of liquor,” said Congress leader B Janardhan Poojary.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, he said that though the BJP banned arrack and hiked price of liquor, the consumption has not gone down. On the contrary, the hike in prices of liquor has made poor more poor.

Coming down heavily against Mr B S Yeddyurappa, Mr Poojary said that he is unfit to be the chief minister. “Its sad that he (Mr Yeddyurappa) did not get any other person than Mr Narendra Modi as his role model,” Mr Poojary said and added: “You wait and see. Mr Modi will be behind the bars soon.”

The decision of the Congress to support Mr Bangarappa who is contesting against Mr Yeddyurappa is just to “save Karnataka,” Mr Poojary said.

Reacting to Mr L K Advani’s statement that “the BJP is ready to sit in the opposition,” Mr Poojary sarcastically said that the BJP is scared (of defeat) and they have already know the results.

Calling Ms Sushma Swaraj as his (Mr Poojary) “teacher” for teaching him (Mr Poojary) to use the word “Papigalu” (sinners), Mr Poojary said “We (Congress) are not sinners. In fact, the BJPs are sinners.”

Recalling a statement made by Ms Swaraj that “the UPA government was responsible for bringing the terrorists to the South,” Mr Poojary said “... that means the people in North are sinners.”

BJP and communalism

Stating that BJP and the Sangh Parivar were responsible for starting communal violence in Dakshina Kannada, Mr Poojary said that communal violence began in the district ever since the BJP was born here.

He also sought to know what happened to Rs 1.25 collected from each individual to build Ram Mandir? “Who had taken the bricks (kar seva) to construct Ram Mandir?” he questioned and challenged the BJP to prove Mr Moily wrong. (Demolition of Babri Masjid by BJP and desecration of Ram Mandir) Congress leaders Suresh Ballal and M G Hegde among others were present.