By Alok S, Team Mangalorean

Mangalore: Speaking to mediapersons at a media meet held in the district Congress office at Hampankatta on Saturday, June 9, party's district spokesperson Farooq Ullal lashed out at JDS state general secretary M G Hegde. The meet was held to clarify the party's stand over the allegations made by Hegde.

Criticizing the statements made by M G Hegde at the press meet held by JD(S) were far from the truth. He said, "These statements against Congress do not suit the image of Hegde. Hegde keeps chanting the names of Shankarmurthy and Karnik at JD(S) press meets. Shankarmurthy and Ganesh Karnik have given more to themselves than contributing to their constituencies. The promises made by BJP are empty. Only a few days back did we see teachers protesting on the streets, which shows their 'achievments'. JD(S) is jealous of Congress' chances of victory in this election."

Echoing Congress leader Ramanath Rai's recent statement that JD(S) only knows to show off, he said that it was evidently true. The counter-statement given by JD(S) that "Congress is like a coffee plant, so it cannot grow everywhere" has no truth in it, Farook claimed.

He further went on to say, "Congress candidate Joyappa is not dummy as alleged by MG Hegde, but Hegde himself is a dummy and therefore he is not getting prominence which he should have got in JD(S)."

On the occasion he also questioned as to why only JD (S) candidate Panchaksharaiah was not brought into the limelight unlike Bhojegowda who has been attending press meets. "I smell something fishy," he suspected. He demanded an answer for his question.

Commenting on the statement made by JD(S) questioning the potential of the Congress party, he pointed that the results of the ZP election showed how 'barren' the JD(S) was.

He concluded with a piece of advice to M G Hegde "Being a good leader, you should use your talent for the betterment of yourself and others, and not to tarnish anyone's image". Speaking on the MG Hegde switching to the JD(S) from Congress, he said that in a few days Hegde would leave JD(S) too.

Congress leaders Suresh Ballal and Ashraf Haji were also present on the occasion.