Yashodhara V Bangera

Daijiworld Media Network - Moodbidri (SP)

Moodbidri, Jan 8: "This taluk will come into existence from January itself. We will earmark funds for the long-pending demand for underground drainage project here in the budget being presented shortly," said Karnataka chief minister (CM), Siddaramaiah.

He was speaking after inaugurating and laying foundation for various works worth Rs 79.50 crore undertaken by various departments in the local legislative assembly constituency by unveiling stone plaques on Sunday January 7. At the meeting organized at Swarajya Maidan here, the CM promised to pass strict law to crush communalism with an iron hand.

While assuring to treat everyone equally and assuring the people that there is no cause for worry, he asked the people of Dakshina Kannada district, who are intelligent, not to allow communalism to get deep-rooted here. He also sought full cooperation and support of the citizens in ensuring that law and order prevails in the district.

"Out of 6.5 crore citizens of Karnataka, 90 percent have availed of one or the other facility from the government. The people of the state are not against our government. BJP is also aware of the way in which we have been running the government. But to create confusion in the minds of the people, the opposition party has been indulging in criticizing and making false allegations against the Congress government. Yeddyurappa has kept repeating his empty rhetorics in Parivartana rallies. The BJP which has two tongues, heavily relies on falsehood for its survival. The only achievement of the BJP was to give bicycles and saris. It does not believe in secularism and has the hidden agenda of making changes in the constitution. The leaders and workers of the BJP in the state do not have faith in the state leaders, and they are dreaming of 'vision 150' solely reposing faith in Modi's charisma. 'Mann Ki Baat' will fail to have any impact in the state. Only 'Kaam Ki Baat' works here," he added. He commented that Ananth Kumar Hegde, who is an MP, is not fit to become even a gram panchayat member.

On this occasion, he released a Kannada work, 'Nudidanthe Nadediddeve (we have kept our word)' containing various achievements of the state government. He also symbolically handed over facilities and certificates to 37 beneficiaries of various schemes.

Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister, B Ramanath Rai, said that there is a need to restrain communal forces in the district and called upon people not to support people who disturb communal harmony.

Local MLA, K Abhayachandra Jain, who presided over the programme, in his introductory address, hailed Siddaramaiah for taking a pledge to free Karnataka of hunger within an hour of assuming power. He appreciated the CM for sanctioning high amount of grant for the town's development, duly noting that highest grant under 'Vidyasiri' scheme has been bagged by the town which houses over 30,000 students.

Former union minister and Rajya Sabha member, Oscar Fernandes, ministers, U T Khader and Pramod Madhwaraj, chief whip of the legislative council, Ivan D'Souza, MLA, Mohiuddin Bava, president of Tulu Sahitya Academy, A C Bhandary, B H Khader of Karnataka Cashew Development Corporation, local municipal president, Harinakshi Suvarna, Moodbidri Urban Development Authority chairman, Suresh Prabhu, Mangaluru taluk panchayat president, Muhammed Monu, deputy commissioner of the district, S Sasikanth Senthi, chairman of Alvas Education Foundation, Dr Mohan Alva, Majaruguthu Anand Alva, president of Karnataka State Cooperative Apex Bank, Dr M N Rajendra Kumar, and local tahsildar, Muhammed Issac, were present.

Additional deputy commissioner of the district, Kumar, welcomed. Ramachandra Rao Bantwal presented the programme.

On this occasion, Abhayachandra Jain, who has completed 25 years as MLA, felicitated Siddaramaiah, who was on his first ever official visit to the town. On this occasion, condolences were offered to Deepak Rao and Basheer, who were killed recently.

On this occasion, Siddaramaiah said that Abhayachandra Jain is currently going through a phase of political frustration as a result of which he had said he would not contest for assembly election again. "But I have recommended his name as party candidate from here again. I have requested him to change his mind, and he will become your representative again," he added.

BJP attempt to wave black flags

Police personnel arrested BJP leaders,who were preparing to wave black flags at the chief minister on his way to the town after his programme at Puttur on Sunday evening. The leaders were released after the programme. BJP leaders had planned to stand on the road in front of BJP office through which the CM was to move and wave black flags at him. Zilla panchayat member, K P Sucharita Shetty, district BJP vice president, K P Jagadish Adhikari, local Mandal BJP president, Ishwar Katil, and several other leaders were detained and released later. When lodged in the police station here, these leadlers were heard raising slogans against the CM.