Congress Protesters burn Effigy of MP Nalin for Delay in Pumpwell Flyover Work
Mangaluru: The South and City Block Congress party workers staged a protest at the Pumpwell circle against the delay in Completion of Pumpwell and Thokkottu Flyover work on August 1.
The protesters shouted slogans against the NDA government led by Narendra Modi and the MP of Dakshina Kannada Nalin Kumar Kateel.
Addressing the protesters former MLA J R Lobo said, “If the Congress was in power and if there were minor patch works pending, BJP leaders including MP Nalin Kumar Kateel would have protested and blamed the state government, and MCC. But here MP Nalin Kumar Kateel is incapable of completing the Pumpwell flyover work from the past 8 years. Ten years ago when the UPA government was in power funds were sanctioned for the flyover in Pumpwell. Now from past the 5 years, BJP is in power and the MP is unable to complete the flyover work. Do we need such a useless MP to represent us?”
Lobo further said, “From past 10 years Nalin Kumar Kateel is the MP of DK but what is the contribution from him. How much funds has he brought to the District for development work? MP Nalin is not able to complete the Pumpwell flyover work. The NHAI officials are not listening to him. Today we are exposing Nalin’s weakness. If he cannot complete the work of a small flyover, is it possible for him to work for the development of the district? For any national highway, four lanes should be constructed first with provisions for the service road. But in Bikkaranakatta the service road is in a pathetic condition, it looks like a road in the slum area which is a shame for us. In Nanthur many lives have been lost but till date, the flyover or underpass has not been done. Any of the National Highway roads are not in good condition. Oscar Fernandes had dreamt of constructing a tunnel from Shiradi Ghat to Hassan with the help of the Japanese government but the BJP government did not support it nor did MP Nalin take any initiative. The BJP government is useless since it did not give any priority for the development of Dakshina Kannada district. We need to eliminate such a hopeless government. Recently I read in a newspaper that the MP of Dakshina Kannada has handed over a memorandum to Minister Nitin Gadkari, requesting to release funds to complete the National Highway and the Kulai Jetti work. Why did he need 8 years to hand over the memorandum to the minister? We need to join hands to expose the BJP.”
Addressing the protesters District Youth Congress president Mithun Rai said, “When we planned to hold the protest the police officers asked us to hold the protest peacefully. This protest is not for publicity but to prove that the Congress party is with the people. When the UPA government was in power, funds were sanctioned for the Pumpwell flyover. MP Nalin Kumar Kateel is fooling the people without completing the Pumpwell flyover work from the past 8 years. MP Nalin does not have the capacity to bring funds for the District since he does not have the required education to get the funds. But he could have continued the flyover work with the funds sanctioned by the UPA government. The Thokkottu Flyover has also been constructed in an unscientific manner and people are suffering from the past 9 years. Mangaluru is the heart of the city, and people from other cities and districts come here for treatment and education. Many people have lost their lives due to the pathetic roads. I want to ask the MP a question, “How many questions has Nalin asked in the Lok Sabha on development work and the problems faced by the people of Dakshina Kannada”. On the youtube, we have seen other MPs asking questions in the Lok Sabha but we have never seen or heard of MP Nalin asking any questions. It is because he cannot communicate with anyone as he cannot understand English and cannot speak Hindi. We do not know who gave him the “Number 1 MP” tag! I think it is a self-declared tag by MP Nalin Kumar Kateel. It is the mistake of the people that they have voted for him. He has failed to bring any funds for the district. How much funds has MP Nalin brought to DK for development work? How many jobs were created in Dakshina Kannada?”
Mithun Rai further said, “MP Nalin has worked hard to divide the society by spoiling the harmony and brotherhood. MP Nalin created a story of the Karthik Raj murder case. He called a number of press meets and said that the accused had come from Kerala and murdered Karthik Raj. Nalin had also held a protest along with the accused in Karthik Raj murder case in front of the Konaje police station. When he came to know that the accused was Karthik’s own sister he stopped his protest. MP Nalin also said that he would set DK on fire if the murderers of Karthik Raj were not arrested. Today is a symbolic protest. In the coming days, we will celebrate the 8th anniversary of Pumpwell Flyover construction work by decorating the incomplete work and distributing sweets.”
MLC Ivan D’Souza, MLC Harish Kumar and President of District Mahila Congress Shalet Pinto also spoke on the occasion.
Later the effigy of MP Nalin Kumar Kateel was carried in a procession around the Pumpwell circle and burnt.
