BJP reprimands Cong for demanding character certificated to falsely implicated Muslim youth

Mangalore, Oct 9: Reacting to the Union Home ministry advisory asking the state governments to issue character certificates to Muslim youth'wrongly' implicated and detained in terror cases, Karnataka BJP chief Prahlad Joshi castigated the move claiming that such statements were issued by the ministry only to appease the minorities.

Addressing mediapersons at a press conference at the BJP office during his visit to the city on Wednesday, he said that this was one of the tactics by the Congress government to gather votes as Lok Sabha polls were drawing nearer. There is a judiciary system to determine if the ones detained are innocent or not. By issuing such an advisory, the government is trying to hoodwink the Muslim community, which is being taken for a ride by the Central government, he said, questioning the right of the Congress to issue character certificates.

Compensation for fruit rot and foot-and-mouth disease

Mr Joshi said, “Although few ministers have visited parts on the state affected by fruit rot disease, there is no sign of any compensation package for affected arecanut growers even after 15 days. The government has taken no action in this regard apart from suggestions to provide compensation from the National Disaster Management Fund. If the government fails to respond to these issues immediately, the BJP will have to take up a fight,” he said, demanding a compensation of Rs 25,000 for each hectare affected by the disease.

Speaking on the foot-and-mouth disease in the state, he said that over 5,000 animals had fallen prey to the disease in the taluk, while the veterinary doctors from the Department of Animal Husbandry had been deputed to other departments. The state government has to compensate each animal with a sum of Rs 25,000 which should reach the people immediately, and also provide infrastructure to animal husbandry hospitals, he said.

Preparations for Lok Sabha elections

Mr Joshi said that in view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls next year, meetings and conventions will be held in all Lok Sabha constituencies within December 15, with a minimum of ten party members participating in each convention.

Yettinahole project

Responding to queries on the controversial Yettinahole project, the BJP chief said that before commencement of work on the project, the state government should take people into confidence and implement it only after a study on the environmental impact. He urged the Chief Minister to hold a meeting with the officials of all the districts involved as soon as possible.

Leader of opposition in legislative council D V Sadananda Gowda, BJP state general secretary C T Ravi, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLC K Monappa Bhandary, district president Pratap Simha Nayak and others were present.