Mangaluru: Former MLA Vijay Kumar Shetty said that some of the top Congress leaders are trying to defame former central minister Janardhan Poojary by giving false statements through local leaders.

Addressing the press personnel at district Congress office on Thursday he said that a local leader named Kavu Hemanath Shetty had made some statements against Poojary.

“We have to note that Kavu Hemanath Shetty is not a staunch Congress party worker. He has changed four parties so far. Now he is making statements against Janardhan Poojary who served as central minister and worked for welfare of the Congress only,” he said adding that Shetty was actually speaking on behalf of Congress leaders like District In-Charge Minister Ramanath Rai, MLC Ivan D’Souza and their followers. He said that it is rather shocking to know that some have even complained to the CM against Poojary.

He further said that when Janardhan Poojary contested for MP elections these leaders spent money to defeat Poojary. If Poojary would have been the MP then he would have fought tooth and nail against Yettinahole project.

It may be recalled that on June 7 former Puttur block Congress president Kavu Hemanath Shetty had said that Janardhana Poojary should undergo narco test as he is giving undesirable statements on CM Siddaramaiah and the Ministers of DK.

Former mayor Purushottam Chitrapura, Corporator Appi Latha, T K Sudheer and others were present.