We need a secular country: Janardhan Poojary

Mangaluru:  Lambasting at BJP and Sangh Parivar former union minister and senior Congress leader B Janardhan Poojary  said that the unity of nation is under threat. Addressing a press meet here on Monday December 22,Poojary said, "BJP and Sangha Parivar are spreading hatred in the country. The nation's unity is under threat. Seeing the activities of the Sangh Parivar, we feel doubtful whether democracy exists in India at all. If this continues, India will not have a future."

"If you want to give ration cards or houses, just give, but don't lure people with such promises in order to convert them. It is an offence which is spreading like a disease in the country," he said. "My question to the patriots of this is - Don't you want this country to be secular? Or do you want it to become a Hindu Rashtra of Ashok Singhal and Mohan Bhagwat?" he questioned, adding that forced conversion is a criminal act.

Reacting to allegations that the state Congress government had withdrawn Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill 2010 and the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Preservation (Amendment) Bill 2012 because of its 'anti-Hindu' policies, Poojary said, "The BJP is twisting statements. Only the Bills introduced by the previous BJP government were withdrawn. The Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act 1964 is still there.

Commenting on the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2014 and the proposal of bringing Maths into government control, he said, "I support this Bill. If there is any problem in a Math, the government will look into it and solve the problem and hand it back to the Math. The government will intervene if there is any issue with the Math or any irregularities, and set it right.

At that moment, a reporter asked why only Maths and temples were proposed to be taken under government control and not worship centres of other religions, to which Poojary, after some hesitation, replied, "This is only on an experimental basis. In future, it may be extended to churches and mosques also."

However, the reporters were not convinced and words were exchanged between Poojary and the press persons, to the extent that Poojary grew angry and resorted to personal attack on the reporter who raised the question.