Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad
Credit: DH Photo
Davangere: Labour Minister Santosh Lad stated that it would be good if Union Minister Nitin Gadkari becomes the Prime Minister of the country as the BJP-led government at the Centre still has four more years in the office.
Addressing media people on Friday, he said, "Personally, I don't want BJP to remain in power at the Centre. However, the BJP has got people's mandate. The Prime Minister should be changed for the progress of the country."
He also made it clear that the country cannot be run by an individual. "People do not know the names of five union ministers. The media has made PM Modi a hero. Even the firecrackers burst during Deepavali festival are coming from China. I just wonder, what happened to the 'Make in India' project?" he questioned.
He also claimed that reports have confirmed that the water at the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj of Uttar Pradesh was polluted. "Discrimination was made in the facilities which were provided to devotees for the holy dip. The rich devotees have tents worth lakhs of rupees."
"The poor devotees have to wait for days to take the holy dip. The government did not even properly report the number of deaths in the stampede. Besides, 18 people lost their lives in a stampede at a railway station situated at a distance of just 3 km from the Parliament in Delhi. PM Modi did not visit, even out of curiosity," he rued.
On MUDA scam, he said that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has got a clean chit in the case. "This is a victory for justice. The BJP’s attempt to trouble Siddaramaiah, who is the only Chief Minister from a backward community in the country, has not been successful."
"Only 14 sites were discussed in the 'MUDA case'. There is a need to discuss the 110 sites that had been allotted," he said in response to a question.