Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Sep 23: Former chief minister Veerappa Moily spoke to media on Saturday September 23 and said, “We have observed some political, social and economic changes in the country. The Congress government in the state has completed 125 days. Prior to the election, the Congress had announced guarantees. Four of them were implemented in 100 days of the Congress’ term. People of Karnataka have benefitted in large number on the guarantees that Congress have implemented. Yuva Nidhi guarantee for youths will be implemented before January 2024, as we need collect certain data for the scheme.
“Several oppositions were raised when guarantees was announced terming that it will affect the economic condition of the state, but the guarantees were successfully implemented without any adverse effect on the economic condition,” he said.
On the Women’s Bill, Moily said, “The government was terming the event as ‘historic’ after they passed the woman reservation bill in the new parliament building. It was in 2010 when I was the law minister the bill was passed in Rajya Sabha but the move could not come to fruition so far, for lack of political will and consensus. Now the government has the majority and the bill was passed which took them 10 years to do so. The move is just a drama and have not come out of concern towards women.
“In the last 9 years of the NDA government, our nation is behind in equality, while in global gender gap, the NDA government has a worst record as we stand in 135th position out of 146 countries. The languages are the country’s assets. As many as 42 languages are languishing including Tulu. During S M Krishna’s tenure, Tulu was recommended to be includes in the Eighth Schedule. The then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also formed a committee for the same, but our government did not gain majority in the elections,” he said.
When asked about the need of three deputy chief ministers in the state, Veerappa Moily said, “It might be the personal opinion of a few leaders. We are a strong party and there is no rift among anyone. If three DyCM’s are in, then our party will turn to be the strongest.”
On the JD(S)-BJP alliance, Veerappa Moily said, “Whenever the JD(S) enters into an alliance, it is an unpleasant situation. We had a bad experience earlier. H D Kumaraswamy had once said that the party will not reach such a stage that it will have to ally with the BJP. It seems that JD(S) has reached that stage now.”
When asked about the deletion of socialist secular from new copies of the constitution, Veerappa Moily said, “The BJP and Modi are anti-constitution. If they are brave enough, they should amend the constitution by calling out a new session and take it as a challenge.”
On contesting Lok Sabha elections next year, Moily said, “Yes, I will contest the upcoming elections from Chikkaballapur.”
District Congress president Harish Kumar, former MLA JR Lobo, former MLC Ivan D’Souza, corporator Shashidhar Hegde, Congress leaders T K Sudhir, Bhaskar Moily, Krupa Amar Alva, Joachim, Saleem, Ganesh Poojary and others were present.