Udupi, (The Hindu): Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Empowerment and Sports, on Tuesday denied that the recent raids by Income Tax officials on fish processing units in Udupi district had been targeted at him. Replying to queries from mediapersons whether the raids by IT officials were targeted at him, Mr. Madhwaraj said that he was not bothered about whom the raids by the Income Tax officials were targeted at. “Only God can target me. I am not bothered at others targeting me,” he said.

To another query, Mr. Madhwaraj said that he had not taken any funds for elections from anyone. He did not require funds from anyone.

“I will not give any reaction on the raids by the Income Tax officials on the fish processing units. I do not have to give any reason for not giving my reaction,” he said.

On whether he was going to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Mr. Madhwaraj said that he had never said that he would join the BJP. Neither had the Congress workers said so. “It is the media’s favourite question to me. The media has the right to ask questions and do their own analysis. No one has made me any offer to join the BJP,” he said.

On the proposed convention of fishermen of three coastal districts to be inaugurated by the president of BJP Amit Shah next week, Mr. Madhwraj said that the fishermen would see through the purpose of the conference. “What has the BJP done for the fishermen in the last four years? The fishermen are wise enough to know it,” he said.

On ‘Soft Hindutva’ being practiced by the Congress party, Mr. Madhwaraj said that it was not the prerogative of the BJP leaders and workers alone to visit the temples.

There was no bar on the Congress leaders and workers visiting the temples. Both the AICC President Rahul Gandhi and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi had visited temples. It was nothing new, he said.