'Make clear Centre’s contribution to coast'

Former minister Pramod Madhwaraj said that the BJP MLAs should first clearly state the contributions of the Central government for the development of the coastal and Malnad districts before criticising the state budget presented by the JD(S) and Congress coalition government.

Speaking to reporters here on Friday, the former minister alleged that the BJP MLAs and other people's representatives can go to any extent to gain publicity.

Madhwaraj said that the false propaganda by the BJP to defame the present coalition government will not be successful as the people now better know the benefits they availed from the previous Congress government. The present budget is the continuation of the earlier budget presented by former chief minister Siddaramaiah, he said.

He added that the coastal districts had better programmes in the earlier budget and the development programmes started will not be affected.

The former MLA said that BJP just wants to defame the government and in its bid to do so, it has forgotten what the Central government had done for the development of the coastal districts. The BJP leaders should remember that the development initiatives and funding from the Central government for this region is absolutely nil, he claimed.

He added that the Malpe-Adi Udupi Road, which has been declared as a national highway some four-and-a-half years ago, has remained underdeveloped.

He ridiculed that the present MLA has taken the delegation of fishermen and others to the chief minister to submit the proposal of demands on the day that the budget report went for printing. "Moreover, all the demands were taken care of. There was nothing new. The MLA lacks basic knowledge that he should be meeting the chief minister much earlier to raise the demands," he quipped.

He added that the parliamentarian from Udupi is an NRI who has never felt that she should be visiting her constituency at least once in blue moon. As the parliamentary elections are approaching, hopefully, the public will get to see her, he said.

The Congress leader alleged that the street light problem in the city was created by the BJP leaders themselves who used one of the CMC officials to get to spoil the street lights and also disconnect the line. He added that he has raised the issue with the government and the official has been transferred. The BJP leaders have crossed all barriers of decency, he alleged.

Madhwaraj said that the MLA and his men have started a new tactic to ensure that the works announced and sanctioned during his tenure are not completed. "The MLA is exerting pressure on the officials not to carry out any works sanctioned during my tenure."

He said Rs 9 crore and Rs 5 crore has been released for Padukere and Tenkanidiyur respectively to construct the sea walls.