Udupi: Former prime minister and JDS Supremo H D Deve Gowda has responded harshly to district in-charge Minister Pramod Madhwaraj’s statement saying that Rama and Krishna were non vegetarians. “There is no lack of people, who create controversies,” he said.

Addressing the press reporters at Circuit House on Sunday, he said that the purpose of his visit is to strengthen the party. He will travel to all districts just as a party worker. He is uniting the party activists for the upcoming elections.

“If anyone proves that my party is zero party and shows one taluk where nobody follows JDS, then I will retire from the politics. Our leaders have failed to clear the doubts of party workers and that is the reason behind the weakness of the party. We are not strong, I admit it,” he said.

Commenting about the gherao to Krishna Math objecting the Pankthi Bedha, by Udupi chalo team, he said that if they do not like that, then they should not go there. Thousands of devotees visit the math and nobody was forced to have food in the math. It is devotees wish.

“There is no out come by debating on this issue. It is left to devotee’s faith and beliefs,” he added.

Dakshath Shetty,Shalini Shetty, Sayyad Safiualla Saheb and others were present.