‘Give documents on release of Rs 16k crore for DK’

District Congress Committee spokesperson A C Vinayraj has urged MP Nalin Kumar Kateel to produce documents to back his claim on the release of funds by the Centre for development of the district.

Kateel had claimed that the Centre had released Rs 16,000 crore for the development of the district during his tenure as MP.

Vinayraj also demanded to know what development works had been carried out with the funds from the Centre.

The DCC spokesperson, who addressed reporters at the Committee office on Tuesday, accused Kateel of taking credit for development works that had been started by erstwhile UPA government in the Centre and the previous Congress government in the state.

“The Kulai fisheries jetty was sanctioned and the detailed project report was prepared during the UPA government. The foundation stone being laid for the project is an election gimmick,” he criticised.

He, meanwhile, pointed out that the NHAI work on four-laning the Gundya – B C Road has been stalled.

“The fate is the same for the Sansad Adarsha Gram Yojana in Balpa village of Sullia taluk. No work has been taken up to develop the Mangaluru Railway Junction into a world class railway station,” Vinayraj said.

He also urged the Central government to help areca growers who had suffered due to fall in market price for the product.

The spokesperson took a dig at the MP, saying that it would not be easy to fool voters of Dakshina Kannada this time.

Vinayraj said that a Congress workers’ meeting will be held at Adyar Garden at 3 pm on March 6.

Congress Mangaluru South Block president Salim, North Block president Vishwas Kumar Das, leaders Niraj Pal, Prem Ballalbag, Stephen, Abhinandan and C M Mustafa were present at the press meet.