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Congress will put Mangalore in world map, says Rahul Gandhi

Last Updated 04 April 2014, 18:15 IST

AICC Vice President Rahul Gandhi said that the Congress will take steps to put Mangalore in the world map in terms of development of technology. Along with Bangalore, Mangalore has potential to become a world class city.

Addressing a huge election rally at Nehru Maidan on Friday, he said the Congress will ensure that the city becomes synonymous with IT and called upon the Chief Minister to focus on developing necessary infrastructure in this regard.

Taking a call on corruption, he asked whether the BJP men are blind when they stand and share dais with former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa in Karnataka. “They go to Chhattisgarh, and Mandhya Pradesh and don’t see mining mafia in the state. They don’t see Yeddyurappa, who has several corruption charges against him and even has gone to the jail.”

He also hit out at BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi indirectly, saying, “When they go to Gujarat, they don’t see corrupt ministers in their (Modi) Cabinet.

In his Cabinet, there are several ministers, who have served jail sentence. But, they don’t get to see corruption there, so why they talk about corruption and point their fingers at the Congress?” he asked.

In the BJP ruled states one would not find “an RTI commissioner or a Lokayukta,” he claimed.

“If they are very serious about corruption, why do they allow corrupt people to stand beside them,” he said.

“Today, anyone can ask question from Prime Minister, ministers and bureaucrats using the tool of RTI, which was introduced by the Congress. The Congress tabled Lokpal Bill. But the Opposition stalled it. Despite the resistance, the UPA government was successful in passing the Lokpal Bill,” the AICC Vice President said.

“From Delhi to Mumbai to Chennai to Kolkata, we have created industrial corridors and built roads. Here lakhs of industries will come up, which in turn will provide employment to the youth of the country,” he said.

Speaking on the cause of women, the AICC Vice President said that the Congress has reserved 50 per cent seats for them in local bodies and was committed in providing 33 per cent reservation in state legislatures and Lok Sabha, if elected back to power.

“The opposition have no answer on development, health and education. We had prepared our manifesto by collecting opinions of five lakh people in the country. We want to uplift those 70 per cent people who are just above the BPL and below middle class category and help them to raise their standard to the middle class level by imparting education. The Congress focus is now on Right to Health and Right to Pension after ensuring right to livelihood through MGNREGS and right to food.

The Congress believes in making all people of the nation as leaders of the nation as against BJP prime minsiterial candidate Narendra Modi’s idea of becoming the nation’s ‘chowkidar’ himself. The Congress believes in taking people along the development process as against the BJP’s tendency which makes people fight against each other, one state against the other. The Congress will continue to fight such forces,” Gandhi added.

‘No Modi wave’

Dismissing Modi wave in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah flayed BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi and the support of corporate houses to him. “Modi will not become the PM at any cost. The fight in these Lok Sabha polls is between one man leadership of the BJP and collective and unity of the Congress.”

He reminded the gathering on the misdeeds of BJP ministers including Yeddyurappa, Krishna Palemar, Shobha Karandlaje and Halappa.

“Modi is only glorified. Among all the senior leaders, Modi was chosen as the Prime Ministerial candidate as he was a staunch RSS follower,” the CM said.

KPCC President Dr G Parameshwara said that the Congress will not compromise with its principles. The BJP does not have any moral right to speak on corruption, when they have leaders like B S Yeddyurappa, Ananthkumar and Katta Subramanya Naidu.

Union Minister Oscar Fernandes, District-in-Charge Minister Ramanath Rai and Karnataka Congress in-charge Shantharam Naik M P among others were present.

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(Published 04 April 2014, 18:15 IST)

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