“Forming a New North Karnataka State in Karnataka is BJP’s Political Gimmick ahead of Lok Sabha Polls in 2019” -MLC Ivan D’souza
Mangaluru: Lashing at BJP leaders on the issue of forming a new North Karnataka State, and also lashing at MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and Ms Shobha Karandlaje on the delay of NH 66 work since the project started 8 years ago, MLC Ivan D’souza addressing the media persons during a press meet held at his office inside MCC building said, ” BJP leader Sriramalu has big hopes of separating of government to form a new North Karnataka. He will be only dreaming to materialize his plan, because we would not allow our govt to split into two. Sriramalu had said just like separate Telangana, this (movement) will also become a big ‘revolution’ and that the coalition government has ignored North Karnataka. He also said that Chief Minister Kumaraswamy is practicing the politics of partiality. The remarks made by Sriramalu are baseless, and people should not listen to such talks. Karnataka will remain as one State, no matter what”.
“This is nothing but BJP’s gimmicks ahead of Lao Sabha polls in 2019. The BJP leaders can’t digest the development and other works done by the Congress/JD {S} led government, so they are coming out with all these plans and allegations. They allege that our government has done nothing for the development and for the citizens, which is far from truth. What has BJP done when it was in power few years ago. Congress has done more for the state than BJP, without any doubts.” Lashing at MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLC Ivan said, ” Why is MP Kateel submitting a memorandum to the Central government now after the NH 66 work had started 8 years ago? Isn’t this a joke, that BJP MP’s Kateel and Shobha Karandlaje are waking up now on the slow progress of NH 66, and try to fool people with their involvement now, by submitting memorandum” added D’souza.
“Due to slow progress and dilapidated condition of this NH 66, the Congress district unit will stage a protest on 1 August at 10 am near Kankanady Pumpwell, to send a strong message to MP Kateel and the Central government for their negligence on this project. If MP Kateel had assured the citizens that he will stop collection of toll fees until the NH 66 work is complete, then why are the motorists still paying the toll. MP Kateel and Shobha are nothing but playing games. Also that Rs 38 crores has been sanctioned for the new Gurupura bridge, I want the money to be released soon, and work on the bridge start soon before the present bridge collapses. If no action is taken soon, I will organize a padayathra from Mangaluru to Moodabidri” added Ivan D’souza
Reacting to the suspicious death of Hazel Mathais on 21 July, a nurse from Shirva, Udup working in Saudi Arabia, the MLC said Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy had written to the Indian Embassy at Jeddah and to the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, urging them to take measures to bring back the body home at the earliest. In addition, the CM had also asked the Embassy to urge the government in Saudi Arabia to conduct a probe into the suspicious death of nurse Hazel. “I will also ask the NRI Forum to investigate into this matter, and also donate a sum of Rs 50,000 to hazel’s family. The Central government should also look into certain issues like Indians working in Gulf going missing, or why always the delay when an Indian dies in the Gulf countries. Even though it is suspected that Hazel might have committed suicide, but proper investigation should be done before any conclusion. We will be in touch with the Indian Embassy in Jeddah, and also with Indian External Ministry Office” said MLC D’souza