Nalin Kumar is lazy MP: Ramanath Rai
Mangaluru: Former minister Ramanath Rai has criticized the Member of Parliament Nalin Kumar for allegedly taking credit of the works done by others. “I have never seen a lazy MP like him,” said Ramanath Rai.
Rai, who attacked Nalin Kumar at a press meet held in the district Congress office on Monday, said “he is the MP who does not know what dollar is. He has set the district on fire through his hatred speeches. Besides causing tension in the area, he did no developmental works.
“He is blaming that the sand mining is taking place in the district. But the sand mining is continuing for around 15 years and not only for two to three years. It is not good to blame somebody when a problem comes.”
“I was an MLA when a bridge was collapsed in Bondantil village. The reconstruction work of the bridge was started within two days. The Bahugram drinking water project was not processed as in Bantwal. The Siddaramaiah-led government was a golden age of development over the past five years,” Rai asserted.
“There were plenty of developmental activities in the previous term. But MP Nalin Kumar is trying to make others guilty when elections are approaching. We have taken approval for several central award programs during the previous term. But, Nalin Kumar has said that I, then MLA Mohiuddin Bawa, and Abhayachandra Jain were the reason for slowing down the construction of Mangalore-Solapur road. I did not understand on what basis he has given such statement. I have conducted various meetings with land acquisition officer and completed the acquisition process. Naveen Kumar did not attend a single meeting at that time. Then why he is blaming me now?’ Rai asked.
”The Lady Goschen Hospital was initiated by the MRPL's CSR fund. At least ten meetings were held for this. The work was completed through other contractors when the first contractor escaped after taking the contract. The first phase work of Shiradi Ghat is undertaken by the state highways in coordination with National Highway. It is now handed over to the National Highway Authority. The first phase work has been completed within a specified period. The second phase work was handed over to Hyderabad contractors. The permission of the forest department has been taken well in advance. Though many works including Rs. 41 crore’s work of the Deputy Commissioner's Office, Airport Road, Ambedkar Bhavan, Veterinary Medical College, Uppinangady Community Hospital, etc. have been completed by the previous government, the MP is blaming that no developmental works were taken place,” Rai said expressing displeasure.
Mayor Bhaskar Moily, Shashidhar Hegde, Mamata Gatti, Shahul Hameed, Naveen D'Souza, Pratibha Kulai, Ashok DK, Shalett Pinto and others were present.
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Mhadei row: Goa CM asks Karnataka govt to follow cooperative federalism
Panaji (PTI): Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has invoked the "cooperative federalism" principle while targeting the Karnataka government amid the Mhadei river water sharing dispute between the two states.
"They (Karnataka) speak about stopping the supply of vegetables or tourism inflow (to Goa). We never use such language. India can go forward with cooperative federalism. We are Indians first and Goans later," the chief minister told the legislative assembly on Friday after opposition leader Yuri Alemao claimed that Karnataka had threatened to stop vegetable supplies to Goa.
Goa and Karnataka are embroiled in a dispute over sharing the Mhadei river water. The BJP-ruled Goa has accused the Congress-governed Karnataka of planning to divert the river water by constructing two dams.
Sawant had said that the Goa government would file a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against Karnataka for carrying out activities that are aimed at diverting the Mhadei river water.
After the House passed the demands for grants for agriculture, Sawant said Goa has reduced the horticulture import by 30-40 per cent, whereas horticulture commodities' export has gone up by 20 per cent.
He stated that the state-run Horticulture Corporation has been procuring vegetables and fruits from farmers in various states and selling them through stalls.
The chief minister mentioned about a young farmer, Varad Samant, who has been providing vegetables of Rs 50 lakh every year to the state horticulture department.
"I have met this young farmer who is in his 30s. He told me that he earns a net 60 per cent profit from the vegetable supply business," Sawant said.
He said the government has focused on the agriculture sector. Citing the Swayampurna Goa Scheme, he said millet production is being boosted.
Referring to the demands of the Opposition, the chief minister said, rather than increasing support price for various products, the government is contemplating the possibility of providing a hundred per cent subsidy to farmers involved in community farming.
"65,500 farmers are registered with the department. They are eligible for facilities like Krishi card and Kissan credit card. They can now walk into the bank and avail of loan up to Rs 1 lakh. If any bank refuses to lend, tell me. Because the guarantee of your loan is PM Modi's guarantee," he added.
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