Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has opined that entire Dakshina Kannada closes shop shortly after 7 pm adding that there is no attractive night-life in the district that taps the local talent.

The Deputy CM, who addressed the Assembly on Tuesday, said, “There is a lot of opportunity in Coastal Karnataka for the growth of business activities and health as well as religious tourism, especially because of its beaches. The opportunities, however, are not utilized well enough since Dakshina Kannada is active only till 7 pm. We find only religious activities like Bhajan and Yakshagana being conducted in Dakshina Kannada after that.”

He added, “Dakshina Kannada has a very number of medical and engineering colleges, but most of the talented youngsters are shifting to Bengaluru, Mumbai and Dubai, which is a worrisome matter. There are no means of entertainment for the youth of Dakshina Kannada, because of which, no youngster wishes to move to the district.”

Shivakumar advised the local MLAs and MLCs of the district to discuss the matter and present a proposal for the development of Dakshina Kannada.

Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja, who spoke on the occasion, said that all BJP legislators from Dakshina Kannada supported the stand of the Deputy CM in relation to the progress of the district.

Get all the latest, breaking news from Karnataka in a single click. CLICK HERE to get all the latest news from Karnataka.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Karwar (Karnataka) (PTI): Not willing to make any direct statement on whether there will be a chief minister change in the state, Karnataka Deputy CM D K Shivakumar on Friday said that he and CM Siddaramaiah have come to an agreement with the involvement of the Congress high command, and both of them will abide by it.

Stating that Siddaramaiah is CM as per the high command's decision, he clarified that he has never made any comments on the former's tenure.

Siddaramaiah, earlier in the day, had affirmed that he would remain in office for his full five-year term, expressing confidence in the Congress high command's support.

During a discussion in the Assembly on the issues pertaining to North Karnataka's development, Siddaramaiah also said he never mentioned that he was the chief minister for only two-and-a-half years.

"I had never said, he (Siddaramaiah) will not be there (as CM) for five years. I have never said that the high command is not with him. As the high command is with him, he is chief minister today," Shivakumar told reporters here.

Noting that Siddaramaiah is in the post of CM as per the decision of the party, he said, "Both of us have come to an agreement, the high command has got us to an understanding, as per that both of us have discussed and have said several times that we will abide by it and go ahead."

Shivakumar, however, chose not to answer a question, whether there will be a change in the chief minister post or not.

To a question on talks about CM change, he said, "It is you (media) who is talking about it, there is no discussion among us. We will abide by what the party says."

The Deputy CM was on a visit to various temples in the Uttara Kannada district on Friday.

To a question linking his visit to the goddess Jagadeeshwari temple in Uttara Kannada district's Ankola, to his chief ministerial ambitions, Shivakumar said, "I don't want to talk about it, it is between me and the mother goddess. It is between the devotee and the deity. What I have prayed to the goddess and what she told me is between us."

He said, five years ago he had come to the temple regarding some issue concerning his family and his wish was fulfilled. "So I'm visiting the temple as a mark of gratitude and to seek blessings for me, the state and the people who believe in me. I'm going back happily."