No party is concerned about drought, says Poojary

Senior Congress leader B Janardhana Poojary on Monday regretted that drought issue was not discussed in the  KPCC Coordination Committee meeting held in Bengaluru on Sunday though the state is reeling under drought.

Addressing reporters here, he said except media, no political party - neither Congress nor BJP or any other party - is concerned about the prevailing drought in the state.

Suggesting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to step down from his post, Poojary sought to know why does Siddaramaiah needs power if he is not concerned about the people of the state.

Referring to JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy’s statement that he would make the documents public only if Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes action against the guilty, Poojary termed him as a liar. “If you have the documents, make them public as not making public such an issue is also a criminal offence.”

To a query on the chief minister’s media adviser Dinesh Amin Mattu’s suggestion that the persons whose names have been figured in the alleged controversial diary should resign, Poojary said, “Mattu has spoken truth for the first time. But the chief minister does not have enough courage to take action,” he lamented and added that the diary issue would cost Congress as well as BJP dear and JD(S) might gain to some extent.

To another question on the chief minister’s remarks that the original Congressmen are still not accepting him (CM) as a Congressman though he worked for strengthening the party, Poojary said the workers strengthen the party, not Siddaramaiah.

To yet another query on Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader’s statement that those who called for bandh against Kerala CM Pinarai Vijayan’s programme should be beaten with sandals, Poojary said it is “height of foolishness.” “Has he (Khader) cleared his LLB? Has he read the Indian Constitution?” Poojary sought to know.

“Being a minister he should have not made such a statement,” Poojary said. Every person has a right to protest, he said.