Karnataka: Siddaramaiah unnecessarily dragging RSS into row, says Pralhad Joshi

HUBBALLI: Those questioning the central government’s decision to ban the Popular Front of India (PFI) would be taught a lesson by the people, said Union minister for parliamentary affairs, and Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi in Hubballi on Thursday.
Training his guns at former chief minister and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah, Joshi said, “Siddaramaiah seems quite frustrated with the ban on PFI, and is needlessly dragging the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) into this row.”
Joshi sought to remind those questioning the ban on PFI that the Centre had acted the way it had with ample evidence.
“Since our political opponents know this, and are afraid of the response from the public, they are bringing the RSS into this discussion,” the Union minister said. Joshi pointed out that he was from the RSS, as was Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“This is a well-known fact,” said Joshi, pointing out that more than 175 cases filed against 1,000 PFI activists had been withdrawn when Siddaramaiah was the CM. The Dharwad MP said that the Congress, which had thrice banned the RSS, had had to revoke the suspension owing to lack of evidence.
“We do not look at any community as a votebank. We have never claimed that all members of minority communities are anti-national. The action against PFI was initiated in the interest of national security,” Joshi said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and myself are also from RSS, which is a well known fact, just because they need to talk in favour of PFI indirectly, they are bringing the name of RSS, he said.
‘Coal alternative by 2050’
The Union minister said that the government was taking steps to reduce carbon emission by adopting sustainable mechanisms in lieu of coal to generate electricity.
“By 2050, there will be an alternative to coal. By 2040, we will have to generate nearly 50% more electricity than what we are doing now. Even if renewable sources of energy could help meet half that demand, we would still need thermal power for the rest,” said Joshi.