Udupi: Kota Srinivas Poojary’s self-serving rhetoric and the dangerous habit of branding dissent as criminal

 When an elected representative consistently sees "anti-social elements," "criminals," and "terrorists" hiding behind every peaceful civil society agitation, it stops being a mere difference of opinion — it becomes a calculated, self-serving political strategy. Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary’s latest rhetoric, branding student agitators at Jantar Mantar as terror-linked, is not an isolated blurt. It is part of a predictable, loud-mouthed script designed more to catch the eye of the party high command in New Delhi than to serve the constituents who voted him to power.

This stock reaction has become Poojary’s political maneuver. Cast your mind back to the civil society outrage in coastal Karnataka surrounding the Dharmasthala mass burial allegations. When local citizens, activists, and aggrieved groups urged transparent state action, Poojary did not demand a fair investigation or express empathy for potential victims. Instead, he immediately reached for the most alarmist label in his arsenal, claiming the movement was fueled by "foreign funds" and orchestrated by anti-national networks. Fast forward to the student protests at Jantar Mantar, and the exact same theater plays out: legitimate grievances from youngsters are instantly painted with the brush of terrorism.

Why does a public representative rely on such ill-advised logic? The motive seems transparently self-serving. By posturing as a fierce, uncompromising ideological warrior constantly uncovering "conspiracies," Poojary appears to be auditioning for a berth in the Central Cabinet. He seems to believe that shouting the loudest and casting the harshest aspersions on ordinary citizens protesting for their rights will validate his loyalty to the high command.

Yet, in his home constituency, this bluster is backfiring badly. Among the ordinary people of coastal Karnataka—who value fair play, civic responsibility, and reasoned governance—Poojary’s wild accusations are fast turning him into a point of ridicule. Coming from a working-class background himself, one would expect him to exhibit genuine empathy toward the citizens, students, and marginalized people who suffer under systemic failures. Instead, he consistently aligns himself with the rigid establishment, showing zero willingness to advocate for meaningful social reforms or listen to those calling out institutional wrongdoing.

Kota Srinivas Poojary must realize that a representative's duty is to listen, heal, and reform—not to attack citizens exercising their constitutional rights. Constantly defaming students and local activists with conspiracy theories might score momentary points in Delhi's political corridors, but it burns trust at the grassroots level.

Power in a democracy is given by the people, not granted permanently by a party high command. If Poojary does not abandon these self-serving tactics, mend his ways, and begin acting as a true voice for reform, the voters of Udupi and Chikkamagaluru will not hesitate to give their verdict at the ballot box next time.