Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Feb 1: Former MLA Mohiuddin Bawa slammed sitting MLA Dr Y Bharath Shetty and alleged that the MLA is misleading the people of the constituency by spreading lies and promoting all development works done during the previous tenure.

He was speaking in a press meet at the district Congress office here on Wednesday, February 1.

He said, "When I was the MLA in the year 2017-18, the Congress government allocated Rs 58 crore for a six-lane road from Surathkal junction to the temple in Ganeshpura. Even the foundation stone for the commencement of work was done. As the election was approaching nearer, we could not start the work. Later, as the government changed, the present MLA cancelled the tender. Though a re-tender was done, the work was not started. The project was restricted to Rs 18 crore. Rs 40 crore of the fund was diverted to other road works in the constituency. Now the MLA is cheating people claiming that the road work has been completed in his tenure by putting up banners and flex boards.”

Bava further said, “Focusing on the development of the fishermen community, Congress leader the late Oscar Fernandes, taking special interest, and the then state minister for fisheries Abhayachandra Jain had prepared a plan to construct a Jetty in Kulai. Later, when the government changed, union minister Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation for the project. But still, the work has not been taken up.”

He also added, “During my tenure, the Congress government had sanctioned Rs 41 crore for the Surathkal market project. The work of about Rs 14 crore was completed. The present MLA in his tenure had sought Rs 35 crore additional budget for the same project. This shows the failure of the present MLA.”