Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (JD/MS)
Karkala, Oct 22: “Those who love Karkala, will work for its development. I love Karkala wholeheartedly, so I have worked for development in the past 20 years. Those who do not love Karkala, will make false propaganda and hamper the tourism industry of Karkala. I love Karkala, I have loved it earlier also and will love it in future. I will bring hundreds of projects to Karkala in future,” said former minister and MLA of Karkala Sunil Kumar.
Sunil spoke in the meeting of party workers at Vikasa office. He further said, “After the arrival of a deal master in November, the work of telling one lie hundred times is being done. The silence of good people is exploited by wicked people. Some people have the habit of lying. Hence, they are making baseless accusations. After the Congress government assumed rule in Karnataka, leftists, urban naxals and people from other religions got united and are attacking our ideals. A systematic plot is hatched to attack the BJP. This is not only limited to Karkala but happening throughout the country.
“Parashurama Theme Park was not constructed overnight. It is a 10 year old dream. People of not only Karkala but the whole district of Dakshina Kannada enjoyed the inauguration. A tourist spot does not happen in a day. We dreamt that when guests arrive, we will take them to the theme park in order to develop tourism.
“We told that time itself that the project is not complete. It will take another two months. Now many people are saying that Hindutva is insulted at Parashurama Theme Park. But I said in the first meeting itself that this park is not a religious center. This is just a theme park. There is no breaking of coconuts or lighting of incense sticks there. We said that it is a tourist spot. Those who speak of religion have not visited the Bajana Mandir which I have constructed even once. They do not have right to speak about Parashurama.
“The inauguration of Parashurama idol took place on the first day. On the second day, the Bajana Mandir was inaugurated. The touch of religion and theme park are different. On the third day, cultural programme was held at the grounds at Bailoor. We have made different inaugurations for every event. But insane people do not understand these matters. They say that the idol is made of cement, then POP, then plastic, then fibre and so on and try to fool the public. Accusations on me are not new. I have been accused of various things since several years. They said earlier that I own 100 trucks. Their jobs is to make baseless allegations.
“If there are doubts about the idol, then let them investigate. It is five months since the new government assumed power. Why they have not investigated? If the quality is poor, let the wrongdoers be punished. Even now, I am asking the government to investigate the matter. As the Congress has dual policy, they will not investigate the matter. It is not ready to approve the released grant and to begin the work. But they want to make false propaganda. If someone goes and says it is made of fibre, it is not right. Some qualified engineer should inspect and give opinion. Congress leaders cannot become investigating officers.
“The BJP government got Rs 14.5 crore approved for the project. Already Rs 6.5 crore is released. Rest Rs eight crore is approved but not released. Siddaramaiah has withheld all funds that were released by the BJP government for various projects. Hence, this grant is also not released. I would have appreciated Udaya Kumar Shetty if he took the initiative and released the withheld funds as his party is in power now.
“They said that on September 9, the tahsildar will order for continuing the work and hence the entry of public is banned. This is not my order. Why did the contractor of the idol stop the work within two days of beginning the work? It is said that the work at the park is being done under policy surveillance. Who stationed the police there? Later, the police were removed and leaders of the Congress sent drone cameras to survey the work. Now again, the police are put for surveillance. I ask the district administration here as to who put the police there? Why they were removed after two days and put again after a day? A man should have commitment and honesty. But Udaya Kumar Shetty does not have both. He has never thought that every statement of his is damaging the tourism industry of Karkala.
“I will urge the district administration and the state government to accept my five demands. The withheld grant should be released immediately. If there are doubts over the theme park, investigate immediately. Restart the work which is stalled. Let the park be open for tourists. Take action against those who create false propaganda.
“The Congress is not ready to release the sanctioned grant for the project. They want to delay work till the next Lok Sabha elections and say that the idol was installed by them and not the BJP. If you want to develop tourism in Karkala, search for one more hill and start work there.
“If the government says that it cannot release funds to continue the remaining work of the park, then I will beg to the public and get the project completed. But do not damage tourism for the sake of playing politics,” he said.
Maniraj Shetty, Mahaveera Hegde, Ravindra Kumar, Reshma Udaya Shetty, Sudhir Hegde, Savita, Jayaram, leaders of party and workers were present. Naveen Nayak compered the event.