Mangaluru: The Congress-led state government has not committed any mistakes regarding the issues of Waqf properties or BPL cards, said KPCC General Secretary Padmaraj R. He accused the BJP of misleading the public to gain leverage in the recent by-elections, a strategy he claimed has failed.

Speaking at a press conference at the Dakshina Kannada District Congress Office on Saturday, Padmaraj stated that voters have given a fitting reply to the BJP’s attempts to create confusion. He clarified that BPL ration cards are being issued based on economic criteria and only ineligible cards have been canceled.

He added that any errors in the ration card verification process due to official oversight will be rectified by the government. “The central government has canceled 5.80 crore ineligible ration cards, yet BJP leaders, who remained silent about it, are creating unrest in the state,” he alleged.

On the issue of Waqf properties, Padmaraj criticized BJP leaders for forgetting that 226 notices were issued in 2019 during the Bommai-led BJP government. He emphasized that the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government has not transferred any land belonging to farmers, temples, or religious institutions to the Wakf Board without evidence.

Padmaraj also expressed appreciation for Dakshina Kannada MP Brijesh Chowta’s efforts to attract investments from NRIs. He said this was a part of the Congress’s election manifesto and congratulated Chowta for taking action on this promise. Former Mayor Shashidhar Hegde, Shabbir, Hemant Garodi, Saleem, Durga Prasad, Imran, and Habib were present at the event.

Janardhan Poojary Elated Over Congress Victory

Bantwal: Former Union Minister B. Janardhan Poojary expressed happiness over the Congress’s victory in the by-elections for three Assembly seats in Karnataka and the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala.

Poojary noted that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s victory in Wayanad marks the entry of another female leader from the Gandhi family into the Lok Sabha. He credited the Congress’s success in Karnataka to the leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, highlighting the impact of the government’s guarantee schemes and effective governance in building voter trust.