Poojary compares Modi to Hitler; points fingers at BJP's corruption

Addressing media persons at a news conference in Mangalore on Monday, Mr. Poojary likened Mr. Modi to German dictator Adolf Hitler and alleged that words of progress and clean administration on the campaigning platform in Bangalore were like devil quoting the scripture.

“Hitler was responsible for a mass massacre in Germany and so is Mr. Modi in his own state of Gujarat. His claims that BJP is clean now were like devil quoting the Bhagavad Gita. In the very stage he spoke were R Ashok, Ananth Kumar and Murugesh Nirani who also face allegations of corruption. K S Eshwarappa has been accused of amassing crores of rupees after becoming minister. The BJP has given tickets to corrupt people which Mr. Modi has failed to see”, Mr. Poojary said.

Launching a counter attack on the Gujarat heavyweight, Mr. Poojary said that Mr. Modi himself faces charges of causing massive losses to the Gujarat state exchequer.

“As per the CAG report, he (Mr. Modi) has caused a loss of Rs. 580 crores to the government. He let off the Ambanis from paying Rs. 52.27 crore for gas transportation. A penalty amount of Rs. 160.26 crore payable by a company Agni Pvt Ltd was forgiven. You allowed the Hissar Steel Company to illegally encroached upon several acres of land which caused a loss of Rs. 238.5 crores to your government. Mr. Modi is no less than B S Yeddyurappa as far as scams are concerned”, Mr. Poojary alleged.

Hitting back at Mr. Modi on the issue of Congress' unwillingness to declare its chief ministerial candidate, Mr. Poojary said that the Gujarat CM is not aware of the laws of the country.

“As per law, it is the legislators who decide who their leader should be. The election has to complete and it is the right of the elected MLAs to choose the Chief Minister. Mr. Modi lacks this common sense. Congress has always followed the law and hence we have never revealed our chief ministerial or prime ministerial candidate prior to elections”, Mr. Poojary claimed.

Stating that Mr. Modi's claim of taking Gujarat up the development ladder is nothing but an empty boast, Mr. Poojary said that Gujarat has always been a state of prosperous people and businessman. “Development and growth had taken place in Congress regime too. The growth rate that Mr. Modi speaks of is better in Nitish Kumar's Bihar”, Mr. Poojary said.

'Voter slips dismissed by DC'

Stating that about 3000 voter slips provided by the Congress party have been put aside by the district administration due to technical reasons, Mr. Poojary urged the Deputy Commissioner on the occasion to take apt action and allow the voters to exercise their right.