Mangalore : Former union minister Janardhan Poojary has challenged BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to contest from Mangalore constituency.

“Instead of eyeing on Varanasi, let him contest from Mangalore,” Poojary urged. Addressing presspersons here on Monday, he said “when you addressed a rally in Mangalore at Nehru Maidan recently, you spoke of defeating the Congress. If you are confident of winning, contest the electionfrom Mangalore.”

He sought to attack Modi on the latter’s personal front, saying how can the Gujarat chief minister take care of the nation if he cannot respect and take care of his wife.

“I want to ask him if there is any respect for women in his heart, then he should mention his wife’s name in the election form, which is mandatory. Why does not Modi make it clear he is not married or he has left her? How somebody, who cannot respect and take care of his wife, will look after the nation?” Poojary asked.

“Modi’s visit to Mangalore will benefit the Congress. He had addressed a rally during the Assembly polls in Karnataka. However, the BJP failed utterly and it was Congress who formed the government.”

“If Modi contests from Mangalore, then people of the district will teach him a lesson. Here women are respected and revered in the society. Those who do not respect women will be taught a lesson,” Poojary said.

Modi should come out in open and tell the truth of his personal life to the public.

“Although marriage is a lawful act, Modi is not ready to accept his marriage, thus proving his unworthiness to become the prime minister of the country. This shows the character of a person,” Janardhan Poojary ridiculed.

To a query on primary (internal) election for Mangalore Lok Sabha polls, Poojary said that there is no groupism in the district Congress committee. “The primary election was held in a disciplined manner. It is the party workers who are the masters who decide on the candidate. The primaries should be held in all the constituencies. It is a democratic way to announce the name of a candidate who will contest from a constituency. By joining the press meet, U K Monu, a ticket aspirant who had lost primary election on Sunday, has showed that there is unity in the Congress. We will work united for the victory of the Congress.”

On how he planned to stall Nethravati river diversion project from being implemented, Poojary reiterated his stand that he would not allow the project to be a reality at any cost. “People of Dakshina Kannada are opposing the project and had wholeheartedly supported the bandh call on March 3. The government cannot implement a project if the people of the region are against it,” he said and added that there are alternative projects to quench the thirst of the people of parched districts.

The proposed ultra mega power project at Niddodi can not be implemented if villagers are opposed to it. “The villagers should submit an affidavit, protesting the project, to the Deputy Commissioner.”

Minister Abhayachandra Jain, MLAs Mohiuddin Bava and J R Lobo were present.