Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, May 27: In the run-up to the gram panchayat polls, MLA Mohiuddin Bava has challenged former state minister and former MLA Krishna J Palemar to an open debate on developmental works he has carried out in two years since assuming power.

Addressing a press meet in his office here on Tuesday May 26, MLA Bava said, "I challenge Palemar to an open debate regarding the development works I have carried out in the two years of my tenure so far. The former minister is misleading people by spreading lies. At Baliya in Kuppepadavu he claimed that the development work was sanctioned during his tenure and we are only inaugurating it, which is a lie."

He further said, "Rs 21 crore has been sanctioned for the development of roads in rural areas under 'Namma Grama Namma Raste' programme. To complete the work, tender process has been started. Several crores have been sanctioned to build Ambedkar Bhavans in 15 places, and Rs 2.57 crore has been sanctioned for the welfare programmes of the Billawa community. Rs 2 crore has been spent on 230 families from the CM's special grant for people's health needs.

"In my constituency under Gurupur hobli, out of 13 panchayat members, 7 were unanimously elected. Several crores of rupees have been spent on development works in my constituency," he added.

Palemar responds

Responding to the challenge posed by Bava, Palemar told daijiworld, "What is there to discuss in open debate? Bava is telling all lies. In Kuppepadavu it is I who initiated the works, and this has been included in my book of five-year achievements also (as former MLA). The state government has not released a single paise for this.

"If he (Bava) has done any work, it might be some poor quality work in the city areas, but definitely not in rural areas," he added. 

"If Rs 21 crore of road work in rural areas has been sanctioned under 'Namma Grama Namma Raste', let him show the order copy or show where the work has been done. Let him first do all this and then talk about open debate," Palemar said.