Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady
Beltangady, Feb 22: As announced earlier, MLC Ivan D'Souza on Wednesday February 22 visited Shree Manjunatha Swamy Temple, Dharmasthala here.
Even as media persons eagerly waited for the MLC to take vow before Lord Manjunatha to prove Janardhan Poojary's allegations as false, Ivan stressed that it was a personal visit and nothing more.
t may be recalled that veteran Congress leader Janardhan Poojary had claimed that Ivan was the reason behind chief minister Siddaramaiah cancelling visit to Kudroli temple during October 2016. Poojary had alleged that instead of visiting the temple, the CM had gone to Ivan's house. The MLC in a recent press meet had denied the allegations and asserted that he was ready to take a vow before Lord Manjunatha in Dharmasthala to prove his innocence.
Speaking to reporters, Ivan, when asked about Poojary's allegations, said, "This is a personal visit. Lord Manjunatha Swamy will take care of everything. I have prayed and left everything on Him."
I
He then went on to attack the BJP over allegations of corruption against the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government. "The CM has not paid any bribe to the high command, nor has he taken kickbacks on the steel flyover project. Let the BJP prove the allegations or order CBI probe into these matters.
"The I-T raids are happening only on Congress leaders. Does it mean BJP leaders do not have any money? The I-T officials should raid their houses too," he added.
"BJP state president Yeddyurappa has said that he would jail Siddaramaiah within 24 hours if he were to become the next CM. Yeddyurappa should stop dreaming about becoming the next CM and instead concentrate on saving his current position. Siddaramaiah has still one year of tenure left. So why wait till then, let Yeddyurappa show proof of his allegations now itself. He is doing nothing but hit-and-run. If he has any proof, let him bring it out in public," he said.
"The BJP has utterly failed as an opposition party," he added.
Ivan also said that in the coming state budget, the government will increase the amount of free rice to BPL families from 5 kg to 8 kg under Anna Bhagya scheme.
He also met Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade.