Arrest Eshwarappa, demands Poojary

Addressing media persons at Press Club in Mangalore on Tuesday, Mr. Poojary said that the Lokayukta sleuths have recovered gold, silver, cash and property documents from Mr Eshwarappa's residence. Since there are prima facie evidences of corruption against Eshwarappa, the BJP high command must direct Eshwarappa to step down from his post immediately.

“The BJP must seek his resignation just the way B S Yeddyurappa was shown the door. The accusation against him has come from a lawyer and it is following a court directive that the Lokayukta police have acted. It means that there is prima facie evidence against him and hence he must be arrested on charges of corruption. Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar has stated that Mr. Eshwarappa will not be asked to resign. If the BJP is not willing to take action against him, the Governor must intervene and dismiss him within 24 hours”, Mr. Poojary said.

'BJP and KJP are the same'

Rebutting the BJP's claim that Mr. Yeddyurappa's KJP is a 'B' team of the Congress party, Mr. Poojary said that the BJP and KJP are two faces of the same coin instead.

“Corruption is a common factor binding them. If KJP and BJP really are two separate entities, why has the BJP government still retained Mr. Yeddyurappa's supporters with it? What is preventing the BJP High Command from disposing off the rebels from BJP? These two parties may well join hands and form government if at all such a scenario arises after the upcoming Assembly polls,” Mr. Poojary said.

The Congress party will never join hands with KJP or with the BJP, and if at all such a development takes place, it will be suicidal for the Congress, he said.

'URA, Bargur Ramachandrappa supporting corruption'

Lashing out at literary stalwarts U R Ananthamurthy and Bargur Ramachandrappa for accepting to be a part of Mr. Yeddyurappa's advisory committee to decide on the contents of KJP's election manifesto, Mr. Poojary said this move of theirs has paved way for suspicion as to whether they too have become corrupt.

“The society respects literary figures like you. You must resign from the committee and continue your struggle as always. It is difficult to trust people now”, Mr. Poojary said.

'Modi campaign will not work in Karnataka'

Admitting that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi calls the shots in his state and acknowledging his third successive electoral victory in Gujarat, Mr. Poojary said that the 'Modi magic' will not work in Karnataka if at all the BJP is planning to rope him in for the state Assembly election campaigning.

“The people of Karnataka are not fools. They have the maladministration of the current BJP government before them. Will development take place in Karnataka just because of a Modi's speecesh?”, he questioned.

Mr. Poojary also said that Mr. Modi will be a flop as a Prime Ministerial candidate as the entire nation is not ready to accept him. He doesn't have any impact in major states like Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and nearby Maharashtra, he opined.

'Urulu Seve' against 'Made Snana' practice at Kudroli Temple

An 'Urulu Seve' ritual will be performed at Kudroli Gokarnatheshwara Temple in opposition to the 'Made Snana' practice on January 1, Mr. Poojary informed adding that on the occasion, he will perform 'Paada Pooje' of a lady from SC/ST community, to deliver the message of oneness.

On a query on the debate over the election ticket for Lok Sabha polls, Mr. Poojary said that it is too early to speak about it since the polls are scheduled for 2014. While indicating that he is an aspirant for the ticket, Mr. Poojary also said that demand for election ticket to a Muslim candidate by a group of Muslim leaders in the party is not unjustified. “They have a right to ask for opportunities. It is the High Command which decides at the end”, he said.