UTK justifies Mithun Rai’s religious touch to poll campaign

Mangaluru, Apr 12: Congress leader and urban development minister U T Khader has justified the religious beliefs of Dakshina Kannada Congress candidate Mithun Rai, saying it is wrong to consider recitation of a verse from Hanuman Chalisa during poll campaign as the party’s soft Hindutva policy.

Addressing a press conference at the Dakshina Kannada Pradesh Congress Committee office, Mr. Khader said that Mr. Rai has faith in Hanuman Chalisa and has been chanting it before the start of his speech during campaign.

“There is nothing wrong in reciting (a verse of) Hanuman Chalisa or one from the Quran,” he said.

Mr. Khader said that Mr. Rai believes in secular principles of the party. The Congress continues to be vocal against Hindu and Muslim fundamentalist groups which are trying to create unrest in society, he said.

Mr. Khader said that he was confident of diligent voters in the region preferring Mr. Rai as their Member of Parliament. Mr. Rai can effectively take up issues of the region in Parliament than Nalin Kumar Kateel did.

The promise of paying Rs. 6,000 per month to the poor and other assurances made in the Congress manifesto were close to the aspirations of the people than those that were mentioned in BJP manifesto, Mr. Khader said.

Dakshina Kannada Pradesh Congress Committee president K. Harish Kumar was present.