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Senior Congress leader B. Janardhana Poojary on Saturday said Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj H.K. Patil should resign from the post for his reported statement that “there is no drought; only excess summer,” if the latter has any moral responsibility.

The statement, Mr. Poojary claimed, would severely affect the Congress and hence he should go.

Mr. Poojary told presspersons here that it was unbecoming for a leader like Mr. Patil, who was aspiring to become the Chief Minister, to make such statements and later on shift the blame on the media for “misquoting.”

“I have seen and heard his statement on television,” Mr. Poojary said. The statement indicates that Mr. Patil never toured the State and shared the agony of people who are severely affected by the prevailing drought.

Asked to comment on the reported statement of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G. Parameshwara that the party’s internal issues should not be discussed in the public, Mr. Poojary retorted saying the latter should study the party constitution first.

“I have held several important positions in the party including AICC General Secretary and KPCC chief and know in depth the party constitution,” he said.

Going against the Congress’ principles and policies amounts to indiscipline, he said and asked whether fighting against corruption would amount to anti-party activities. “Congress never encourages corruption and he has been fighting corruption at all levels.”

Diverting attention

Taking on the NDA government at the Centre, Mr. Poojary said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, having done “no good” to the nation since two years, is attempting to distract the attention of the people by making allegations against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

He also criticised Mr. Modi for bringing in “Nehru family-baiter” Subramanian Swamy to the Rajya Sabha and said the BJP’s intentions were clear. He said people would not elect the BJP to the power in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.