Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (EP)
Bengaluru, Apr 26: Amid controversy over tainted mining baron Janardhana Reddy being seen on stage with BJP leaders during campaigning and the party giving tickets to both his brothers, state BJP-in-charge and union minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday April 26 clarified that Janardhana Reddy was not the official star campaigner of the party.
"Reddy campaigning in favour of Sriramulu is his personal matter. There is no connection between that and the party. Congress is unnecessarily causing controversy," he said.
Janardhana Reddy has taken up campaigning in favour of BJP candidate Sriramulu in Molakalmuru. He has taken up a house on rent and is staying there for the purpose. Janardhana Reddy has criticized CM Siddaramaiah during campaigns saying that Rama has come to slaughter ‘Siddaravana’, comparing CM Siddaramaiah to Ravana and Sriramulu to Rama. This had created a buzz in the political circles.
Reddy was imprisoned in mining cases and is currently out on bail. He did not take part in party work after that. Besides that, the court has restricted his entry in Ballari. Therefore, he has taken up accommodation in Ballari suburbs. He has become the subject of political attacks for his campaign for Sriramulu. BJP national president Amit Shah has issued a statement ruling out any relationship between Reddy and BJP. Sriramulu on the contrary has said that Janardhana Reddy still belongs to BJP and he is a sincere party worker.
Rahul Gandhi in his tweet severely criticized Reddy brothers and the BJP. “When in power, Yeddyurappa and Reddy brothers looted Karnataka. Our Government brought them to justice. Now, Mr Modi is trying to take 8 of them from jail into the Vidhana Sabha. This is an insult to every honest citizen, to Karnataka and to the spirit of Basavanna,” his tweet read.