Congress padayatra reaches Mani

The second day of the padayatra of the Congress started from Uppinangady on Tuesday.

The padayatra is being organised by the Congress from Nelyadi to B C Road, covering a distance of 42 km of the NH 75, under the slogan “Rashtriya Heddari Poornagolisi, Janara Jeeva Ulisi”, to urge the Union government to resume the four-laning works between Addahole and B C Road.

Former minister Ramanath Rai and former MLA Shakunthala Shetty flagged off the padayatra by breaking coconuts on Tuesday.

The padayatra reached Mani in the evening.

District Congress Committee president Harish Kumar, Mangaluru City Corporation Mayor K Bhaskar Moily, District Youth Congress President Mithun Rai and others were present.

15-km walk

The Congress had launched its three-day paadayatra on Monday. The paadayatra, covering 15 km, reached the Uppinangady bus stand the same evening.

District In-charge Minister U T Khader flagged off the padayatra.

He said, “The Centre and the Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel have failed in all spheres. The NDA government had not chalked out any programmes for the welfare of people in the past four-and-a-half years. The Lok Sabha failed to discuss problems faced by students, farmers, unemployed, women and labour community.”

The minister said, “If a Congress candidate won the next Lok Sabha polls in Dakshina Kannada, there would be a turnaround in the fortunes of the district. Also, Rahul Gandhi should become the Prime Minister of India.”

‘Complete road work’

Former minister B Ramanath Rai said the road widening work from Addahole to B C Road should be completed at the earliest. The MP should have stopped the suspension of the road work, Ramanath Rai demanded.

“Mangaluru Port, MCF and MRPL were initiated during the Congress regime. Unfortunately, the BJP is trying to privatise the airport and port,” he alleged.

Drummers, and vehicle with a mounted loud speaker accompanied the padayatra.