Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Jun 2: The members of Udupi block Congress committee on Tuesday June 2 staged a protest near Clock Tower over price hike following increase in service tax. They also targetted the union government on the black money issue by flashing and distributing fake cheques of Rs 15 lac.

Congress leader Amrith Shenoy, who is also a member of the Mangaluru Academic Council, condemned the central government especially over service tax hike to 14 percent.

"People gave a chance to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prove his potentiality, but he has made a fool of the public with his speeches. Modi has cheated the people in the name of black money. He has failed to get even a single paise from the Swiss Bank," he said.

"Just a year ago Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje had raised her voice against soldiers' deaths at the border, but infiltration has not decreased even now. Where is the drama of patriotism by RSS and Bajrang Dal leaders? Why are they not coming forward to raise their voice against the central government on the border issue?" he said.

"Modi is following the same policies which were structured by economist and former PM Dr Manmohan Singh, but the BJP had spread wrong information regarding Foreign Direct Investment during the latter's tenure. Now the Prime Minister is allowing 49% of FDI in defence forces. BJP should clarify its stand on FDI," he said.

"The Modi-led government has been bringing frequent changes in the Land Acquisition Bill. There is difference between Modi's principles and his followers. If tomorrow former MLA Raghupati Bhat and MP Shobha Karandlaje are told to give up their land as per the Land Acquisition Ordinance, will they be ready to do so without compensation?" Shenoy said.

''Make in India' and Swachch Bharat Abhiyan remain just in words. They have to clean up their souls first and only then talk about Swachch Bharat campaign," he added.

Udupi CMC president Yuvaraj, vice-president Amritha Krishnamurthy, Janardhan Bhandarkar, Ramesh Kanchan and others were present.