Stop implementing communal agendas over the dead, says CM

People who play political games over the dead to implement their communal agendas have an obligation to answer to themselves, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

He was speaking after inaugurating and performing groundbreaking for 15 various development works in Belthangady assembly constituency, at a programme organised at Belthangady taluk sports ground on Sunday.

"Every life is precious. Killing people in the name of religion should stop. Development cannot be achieved without peace and order," he asserted and said that people who believe in law and order do not have to fear as the government will protect them. At the same time, those who take the law into their hands will not be spared.

"People of Dakshina Kannada should not let the district become a laboratory of communal ideologies. Everyone may follow their religion without hurting the sentiments of others. Therefore one should not be misled by communal traps and vehemently oppose organised crimes and acts of hooliganism carried out in the name of religion," he said.

During the last assembly elections, the Congress bagged seven out of the eight seats in the district. The state assembly elections are bound for May and this time the party will sweep the polls with a thumping victory in all assembly constituencies in the district, he said. The opposition BJP which is terrified of their defeat is setting fire to the district through communal acts. The CM meanwhile called upon the people to reject communal forces.

Third CM with complete tenure

The chief minister said that after Devaraj Urs and Nijalingappa, he will be the third CM to complete a full tenure of five years in office. "I am satisfied with my role. The state government has fulfilled all promises it has made to the people during the elections and 155 out of 165 promises have been fulfilled. The rest will be fulfilled before March. In fact, the schemes which were not mentioned in the manifesto were also implemented, CM Siddaramaiah said and stated that 'Indira canteens' will be launched in all taluk headquarters including Belthangady and Ullal.

District-In-charge minister B Ramanath Rai said that Congress party has always been fighting for the cause of the deprived classes and has been a testimony for social justice.

Demands

Belthangady MLA Vasanth Bangera demanded the CM to sanction kumki right to farmers, along with providing kumki rights under Akrama-Sakrama. People belonging to SC/ST communities should be provided with DC manna lands. Boiled rice should be provided to deserving people in fair price shops. Additional funds should be released towards rural development and water supply projects in Belthangady. Mainly, the projects of vented dams to River Netravati in Belthangady should be approved, he added.

The CM symbolically handed over facilities to the beneficiaries of various government schemes on the occasion. Meanwhile, 'Dakshina Kannada Nava Nirmana', the booklet on the achievements of the government in Dakshina Kannada was released by the CM.

Food and Civil Supplies minister U T Khader, Legislative Council chief whip Ivan D'Souza, MLC Pratapchandra Shetty, ZP Standing Committee president Shahul Hamid, Belthangady Taluk Panchayat president Divyajyothi, Belthangady CMC president, Muguli Narayana Rao, ADC Kumar and IGP (ANF) Arun Chakravarthi were present among others. 

Bangera likes 'Vaastu' of the new Mini Vidhana Soudha

In his keynote address, while thanking the CM for sanctioning funds towards the development projects in Belthangady including the new Mini Vidhana Soudha which was inaugurated by the CM on Sunday, MLA Vasanth Bangera said that the old Taluk Panchayat building, built in 1918, was infested by rats and bandicoots. The audience and dignitaries including the CM, ministers Ramanath Rai and U T Khader, were surprised at once when when the MLA stated that the old building was facing towards South and the 'Vaastu' of the building was not right. The issues have been addressed to in the new mini Vidhana Soudha, Bangera added.

CM clears confusion on Bangera's candidature

Appreciating Belthangady MLA Vasanth Bangera's commitment to his constituency, the chief minister called Bangera a very humane and clean-handed elected representative. He has all the abilities to be a minister. "Bangera has been a five-time MLA and was reluctant this time to contest in the elections. But I have convinced him to contest this time too," the CM said. When the CM said this, Bangera nodded his head in consent as the crowd cheered and shouted victory slogans for Bangera. With this, the CM pulled curtains on speculations over Vasanth Bangera's candidature in upcoming elections.

The CM recalled that he and Bangera entered the legislative assembly together in 1983. Then, Bangera was in BJP and Siddaramaiah was in Janata Party.

Siddaramaiah said that Bengera had put forth a demand for Rs500 crore towards development works in Belthangady and was unhappy that only Rs200 cr has been sanctioned. However, another Rs 100 crore will be sanctioned, he said.