Rai successful in providing facilities to all villages in Bantwala segment: BH Khader
Bantwala, May 8: State Cashew Board chairman and senior Congress leader BH Khader said that the basic infrastructure provided to all villages in the constituency by Minister Ramanath Rai would help him win the election.
Speaking to Varthabharati on preparation for the election in the constituency here on Tuesday, Khader said that Rai has brought more than Rs 1200 crore funds for development works. Mini Vidhana Soudha, KSRTC bus stand, multi village drinking water scheme, government hospital, MESCOM building, Tree Park and other development works would certainly help Rai as people were happy about the development. Even Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who visited Bantwala for inaugurating various development works has hailed the works of Rai and blessed him to elect once again, he added.
During campaigning in villages, the people have responded positively about the development works done by Rai and promised of voting him. In the last election, Rai has won with a huge margin of 18,000 votes. The permanent projects are another feather in the crown of Rai. This time, Rai would win with a margin of minimum 40,000 votes, he exuded confidence, he said.
“Being a friend of Rai for decades, I was with Rai while filing nomination papers for seven times. Because of his secular ideologies and development works, Rai has reached this level. He responds to the problems of people very quickly. More than his personal things, he gives importance to his constituency. Really, people and his followers would happy for his tireless works. Rai has not considered caste, religion or political party for his development works. People should not lend their ears to any false propaganda”, he appealed.
After Rai has become the MLA, most of the gram panchayats, taluk panchayat, town municipal council, APMC, Land Development Bank and others are in the hands of the Congress. He has the credit of contesting eight times from a single party and single constituency, he said.
People were disappointed with the false promises, corruption, sexual harassment on women and children, killings of dalits by BJP governments at the centre and in other states and leaders and workers have been joining the Congress appreciating the development works of the Congress government, he said.
Rai has contributed much for temples, churches and masjids. He has also given funds to the tune of Rs 7 crore for minorities. Both Rai and UT Khader were the two faces of the same coin in development works. He has conducted job fair in Benjinapadavu and the Congress government has even implemented loan waiver and Indira canteen which were not there in the manifesto. As there is no issue to counter Rai, BJP has been making false allegations, he said.
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No stubble burning now, why air pollution crisis in Delhi: Mann takes dig at BJP
Chandigarh (PTI): Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday slammed the BJP saying its leaders used to "defame" Punjab farmers over stubble burning and blame them for Delhi's poor air quality and questioned why is there pollution crisis in national capital despite no farm fires now.
Mann said that as soon as paddy harvest takes place, BJP leaders blame Punjab and its farmers for Delhi's poor air quality.
He said they used to claim that stubble burning by Punjab farmers causes Delhi's pollution.
Mann said at present, the Air Quality Index in major Punjab cities is between 70 and 130.
"At present, Delhi's AQI is between 450 and 500 and no smoke is coming from Punjab. But the situation in Delhi is worse. At least now they should agree that there is no role of Punjab for Delhi's poor air quality," Mann said in a video message.
Mann's remarks came on a day Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa apologised for the air pollution crisis in the national capital and acknowledged its impact on children's health.
Sirsa, however, asserted that it was the result of the policies pursued by the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi.
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Last month, the BJP had trashed the Punjab CM's previous claim that stubble burning in the state has no role in the high levels of air pollution in Delhi as "ridiculous".
Dismissing Mann's claim, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva had last month said it is certain that stubble burning is a "major" factor (for the air pollution in Delhi).
Meanwhile, Mann in his video message said, due to severe floods which Punjab witnessed this year, paddy harvesting got delayed, "despite this, many Delhi ministers had already started blaming Punjab".
"I want to praise Punjab farmers, NGOs and efforts of the Punjab government have also paid off in controlling stubble burning this time. The cases of stubble burning in Punjab have reduced by 70-80 per cent and this has been acknowledged by the Central Government and the Union Agriculture Minister," Mann said.
The CM further said that after paddy harvest even the wheat crop has been sown and now, there is no incident of stubble burning.
He said BJP leaders used to claim that Punjab's smoke from stubble travels to Delhi.
"Now, there is no stubble burning, but Delhi is facing very poor air quality. This proves that earlier too Punjab's smoke had no role for Delhi's poor air quality. Only accusations were made by the BJP to defame Punjab. At least now the Centre should praise the farmers of Punjab," he said.
"Meanwhile, Delhi's AQI is between 450 and 500, flights are being cancelled, and breathing has become difficult," said Mann.
He asked both the BJP government in Delhi and the BJP led Centre to address Delhi's air pollution, saying citizens cannot even venture out for a walk due to air pollution.
He also asked the BJP that Punjab should not be dragged into this political battle, instead, Punjab's farmers should be appreciated, and the Delhi and Central governments should focus on addressing Delhi's air pollution.
Mann further said that farmers of Punjab are 'anndatas' (food providers) and they meet the country's food needs, they should not be defamed.
