A war of words between two BJP leaders is expected to begin with the former MLA and BJP leader Appu Pattanshetty declaring that soon he would expose the hypocrisy and double standards of BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yantal.
“I will come out with a document giving clear details of the flip-flops by Mr. Yatnal against party leaders which will expose his hypocrisy,” he said.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, he said that Mr. Yatnal criticised Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on several occasions in the past. But, he is now showering praises on the Chief Minister.
Describing him as one of the most opportunistic politicians, Mr. Pattanshetty said that Mr. Yatnal had even launched a campaign “Yediyurappa hatao, BJP bachao” in the past.
On Mr. Yatnal describing himself as an advocate of Hindutva, Mr. Pattanshetty said that for Mr. Yatnal, Hindutva becomes important only when he needs political power.
“When he was in the Janata Dal(S), he was pretending to be a secular; but when he found no place in that party, he raised the flag of Hindutva to join the BJP,” he said.
On the challenge of Mr. Yatnal to prove his strength if the party takes any action against him, Mr. Pattanshetty ridiculed: “A man who has lost three elections and failed to ensure the victory of the party’s MLC candidate is speaking of showing his strength.”
“I do not understand what strength he is talking about after losing elections thrice in the past,” he said.
Reacting to the outburst of Mr. Yatnal against his own party leaders on the delay in the release of funds for flood victims, Mr. Pattanshetty questioned his concern. “I am asking him, why did he not visit any flood-affected area even once. Despite being chairman of several institutions, why did he not extend any financial help to the flood victims of the State. Having done nothing for the flood-affected, he is now trying to gain political mileage by showing sympathy with the flood victims,” he said.
About the claim of Mr. Yatnal that the Union government granted funds only after his statement, Mr. Pattanshetty called it a joke.
