Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jun 10: The new office of Lok Sabha member, Shobha Karandlaje, located in the deputy commissioner's office complex here was inaugurated on Monday, June 10. Elder members of the party inaugurated the office by lighting the lamp.

Speaking to media persons, Shobha expressed grief at the demise of Girish Karnad. She said that her party expresses condolences at the demise of a noted Kannada scholar.

Shobha said that the BJP would be launching an agitation against the state government from June 14 onward to whip the government to wake up from its slumber and act. "Our party will not rest till forcing the government to work or till it demits office. If the government has no capacity to function, it should tender resignation," she said.

Speaking about the expansion of the state ministry, she felt that ministry expansion would be like hitting the last nail into the government's coffin. "Nothing is working in this government. Ramalinga Raddy and Somashekhar have been opposing the government. Vishwanath has resigned as president of state JD(S). No development works are undertaken and even Congress legislators agree to this statement. We expect the problem to aggravate after ministry expansion. We are just waiting and watching," she explained.

On the issue of land acquisition, Shobha said that the people of the state are being defrauded. She alleged that the government is trying to benefit Jindal Company which has failed to obey the terms of agreement it had entered into with the state government. The government is trying to sell 3,666 acres of land to this company. The government wants to work to the advantage of the company to the detriment of poor farmers. Commission agents are working behind this plan. BJP will undertake tough fight against this move, she added.

Shobha stated that the central government had released grant of Rs 7,182 crore to the state to handle drought and flood during the last five years. She stated that during the previous ten year period, the UPA government had given only 4,000 crore. She charged the government of doing nothing and expressed doubt whether the government is still alive. She accused the government of failing to properly utilise the grant.

Leader of the opposition in the legislative council Kota Srinivas Poojary, Karkala MLA V Sunil Kumar, district BJP president Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde, zilla panchayat president Dinkar Babu, president of fisheries federation Yashpal Suvarna and various other party leaders were present.