Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada Congress District President and MLC Hareesh Kumar alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party uses Billava community for its criminal activities and abandons them once they land in jail.

Addressing the reporters at the district Congress office on Saturday, March 30, Hareesh Kumar said, “About 80 percent of the undertrials in district jail belong to the Billava community and they are used by the BJP for its selfish motives. The party leaders provoke them to indulge in criminal activities and abandon them once they are booked. BJP has not given any prominent positions to the Billawa community the youth, both in state and national politics.”

Coming down heavily on BJP leaders who keep on saying that Congress had neglected the Billava community, Hareesh Kumar listed out the leaders who were provided prominent positions in Congress party and informed that he himself was a Billava. ”Congress has made Bangarappa the chief minister of Karnataka. Billava leaders like Gopal Poojary, Vasanth Bangera, Vinay Kumar Sorake, Jayamala among others have received highest positions in the state politics. Congress has allowed Billava leaders to contest the Lok Sabha election but BJP has not fielded a single Billava candidate in any Lok Sabha constituency”, he said.

Countering the statement of BJP leaders who claimed that Congress had insulted Janardhana Poojary by denying him a ticket in the LS election, Hareesh Kumar said, “Congress has allowed Poojary to contest from the Mangaluru Lok Sabha constituency nine times. This time, the party has decided to field a young candidate. If BJP has so much concern for Poojary, why did they defeat him for five times in the previous elections. If their respect for him is true, they would have preferred not to field any candidate against him in the previous elections”, he said.

Congress to observe Black Day on April 1

Hareesh Kumar informed that the district Congress would observe a Black Day on April 1 as Vijaya Bank would be merged with Dena Bank from that day. “Congress would hold a symbolic programme, to mark our displeasure over merging Vijaya Bank with Dena Bank in front of its branch situated near the party office. If Congress is voted to power, it would at least attempt to retain Vijaya Bank’s name”, he added.

Congress leaders Madhav, Naresh Poojary, Sadashiv Ullal, Arif and Neeraj Pal were present.