Rai always respected Poojary in front of me: U T Khader

Mangaluru, Jun 2: Senior Congress leader U T Khader on Sunday accused Billava leader Hariskrishna Bantwal of unnecessarily raking up a controversy by making allegation against Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister and Bunt stalwart B Ramanath Rai.

Mr Bantwal, who was expelled from the Congress for rebelling against the party’s official candidate during 2015 Council polls, recently accused Mr Rai of using abusive words against former union minister B Janardhana Poojary, who is also the most senior political leader from Billava community.

Replying to queries of media persons at a press meet in the city on the issue, Mr Khader, the minister for food, civil supplies and consumer affairs, said that he has never seen Mr Rai insulting or disrespecting Mr Poojary so far.

He said that as far as he had seen, Mr Rai was very loyal to Mr Poojary and had never spoken in singular terms about him.

“Rai always respected Poojary and the former can never use such derogatory terms for the latter,” said Mr Khader, who has maintained good relationship with all local leaders of the Congress including Mr Rai and Mr Poojary.

Also Read: Ramanath Rai called Poojary “Ra***maga”: Harikrishna Bantwal