Daijiworld Media Networks - Mangaluru (JM)
Mangaluru, Jul 4: Former spokesperson of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) and former general secretary of Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee (DCC) Harikrishna Bantwal slammed district in-charge minister Ramanath Rai for dismissing his accusations as a rumour. He also gave Rai a deadline of one week to take vow in front of the deities of Dharmasthala.
Harikrishna Bantwal had earlier accused Ramanath Rai of 'abusing' senior leader Janardhan Poojary and two Youth Congress leaders at a wedding party in February this year. The person whose wedding it was also came out in open later and dismissed Bantwal's accusations as false.
Addressing mediapersons on Tuesday, July 4, he said, "My accusations against Ramanath Rai verbally abusing senior Congress leader B Janardhan Poojary in his absence was not false as mentioned by other Congress leaders. This is not a civil case. It is a criminal offence and Rai can be booked under IPC 506."
Questioning Rai's ethics and honesty he said, "I hereby offer a week's time to Rai. If he is right, let him swear on Lord Manjunatha and Annappa Swamy at Dharmasthala. I will prove him wrong there. And all this should happen front of media. If Rai had apologized for his mistake, I would not have dragged this matter till here."
Harikrishna also mentioned about Rai’s claims in a press meet held at the Congress office on July 3, about going to New Delhi to convince Congress part president Sonia Gandhi to make Janardhan Poojary the MP candidate in the next elections and said that Sonia Gandhi did not even know Rai.
"Rai claims to have great respect towards Poojary, but never asked for any suggestions from him. He speaks differently inside a closed room and very differently outside in public”, he claimed.
Harikrishna also played an audio clip where Congress member Arun Coelho had testified that Rai had abused Poojary in front of him. "I am ready to come anywhere and testify. Minsiter U T Khader also addressed the press and said that it was a rumour as if he was present on the particular day when Rai used the abusive language. He is trying to defend Rai, because of some internal affairs. This matter has already reached Sonia Gandhi according to my information."
When queried, why was the matter not made public then, Harikrishna said, "It was not a physical fight and was just exchange of words. It all happened in a corner during the marriage, so it was not very evident to all. I do not want any legal action against Rai. I want him to come to Dharmasthala, swear on the deities and justify his action. If he does so, I will never bring up this matter again. Lord Manjunatha and Annappa Swamy will judge his action and they will reward him accordingly."