Congress not scared of Modi, asserts Union Minister Moily

Congress not scared of Modi, asserts Union Minister Moily

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Nov 9, 2013 :  “BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is a fascist and he cannot grow as a leader. The Congress is definitely not scared  of Modi,” said  Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Veerappa Moily.

Speaking to press persons at Circuit House on November 8, Friday, he said  Modi’s moves in  installing the world’s tallest statue of Sardar Patel will have no impact.

He said his fuel saving drive by using public transport once a week has been a success as it has created awareness among the public.

On the sale of 5 kg cylinders in petrol bunks, Moily  said it has been of great benefit to many and even  migrant labourers are making use of the facility.

Referring to the handing over of Sowjanya case to the CBI, Moily said the government in no way exerts influence on the CBI which is an independent body. He hoped that the CBI probe would expose facts in the case.

 

Moily terms row over superstition Bill ‘unnecessary’

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas M. Veerappa Moily said the controversy around the draft anti-superstition bill was “unnecessary” as neither the government nor the Cabinet had yet taken a decision on it.

Addressing presspersons here on Friday, the Minister said: “This is a recommendation by the professors at National Law School of India University. No decision has been taken on this...There is no need for people to feel outraged by this.”

However, he believed that the final Bill will not interfere with religious beliefs or faith. “There is a difference between faith and superstition, and the Bill will address that,” he said.

‘Not targeted at Hindus’

President of Mangalore-based Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations Narendra Nayak has criticised political parties, particularly the BJP, for opposing the Bill proposed by the State government to curb superstitious practices.

In a statement here on Thursday, he said the people opposing the Bill betrayed their “primitive mindset”. He said the bill is aimed at protecting the vulnerable sections of the community from unscrupulous elements who exploit their gullibility and it is not targeted at Hindus in particular.

He said those who had objections to any specific provisions of the Bill could discuss the same in the Assembly and bring amendments.

He alleged that the BJP has a long tradition of promoting superstitions. “It is not that the Congress or Janatha Dal(S) are any better, but this time it appears that the Congress party has decided to change…”

He said the BJP has forgotten that this country has a long tradition of reformism and humanism. In trying to defend inhuman practices which are passed off as tradition, the party is exposing its intellectual hypocrisy and that its founders like Savarkar were atheists opposed to such superstitions.