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

Mangaluru, Nov 4: "The BJP is the ruling party in India, and the opposition in Karnataka. It should know that as opposition, it is as powerful as the ruling party. But if we ponder on some of its recent activities, it looks like BJP is trying to disturb peace in the society and indulging in hate politics," said MLC Ivan D'Souza.

Addressing a press meet on Wednesday October 4 at Mangaluru City Corporation office here, Ivan referred to chief minister (CM) Siddaramaiah's recent statement on beef and said, "Eating or not eating beef is left to the individual to decide. It is a personal matter. The CM has expressed his own personal opinion, but for this BJP has decided to protest against him. In Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act of 1964 is still in force. We are not encouraging anyone to kill cows. Beef does not mean cow meat alone, it can be ox or buffalo meat also."

"BJP leader S N Channabasappa, a former president of the erstwhile Shivamogga city municipal council and former CM Jagadish Shettar have openly said a few things which are not right and it will violate peace in the society. BJP should not bring caste and religion into politics and instead work for the development of the country. Today India is the second largest exporter of beef, and that too it is exported from Gujarat. Those exporting beef are not minorities, they are just doing their work," he said.

Speaking about the Kasturirangan report, Ivan siad, "As many as 11 districts and 40 taluks are going to get affected as per the report. Houses and land which come under the Kasturirangan report are marked as sensitive areas and people will have to leave everything behind and move. Regarding this issue, extensive discussions have been done and many protests have been held. This has come to the notice of the government and the government has promised it will not allow the implementation of the Kasturirangan report. M Madan Gopal, additional chief secretary to the government, forest ecology and environment department has submitted the objection copy to the centre on behalf of the state government on October 20 and on October 26, the centre has acknowledged the receipt of the copy."

Regarding the recent claims by MP Shobha Karandlaje about Congress not doing anything about the Kasturirangan report, MLC Ivan said that the documents are with him and said that he will send a copy to Shobha Karandlaje through speedpost without delay to read and review the objections.

Condemning the recent gang war Mangaluru jail that resulted in two murders, Ivan said, "Months before this incident and similar other these incidents took place in the jail, I had already informed the state government in the Legislative Council about the lack of safety and security of the jail inmates. In February this year, I had requested to install mobile jammer in the jail and the home ministry had said it would request the government for sanction. But so far mobile jammers have not been installed, even though the instruments to install mobile jammers have already come from Chennai and kept in a corner in the jail. This is the biggest lapse from the staff who are working in the jail. In the Legislative Council I had requested the home ministry to shift the jail from the city to Chelur and Kurnad village in Bantwal, but the matter is still not sorted out.

"There are CCTVs in the jail which are not in working condition. CCTVs are installed in the new jail building, but there is no camera in the old jail. Tomorrow itself the CCTVs must be installed. If the jail authorities do not have funds or are not getting the grant, then I am ready to install the CCTVs with the help of my MLC fund. There are no handheld metal detectors, door frame metal detectors and baggage scanners, nor proper inspection in the jail. I have already informed the authorities about all this and I do not know why there is lapse in fulfilling responsibilities," he said.

When a reporter questioned whether it was a failure of the former home minister K J George, he said, "There are men working under the home minister and officers who were working under him and not doing their work properly. We cannot blame the home minister for it. I would have blamed the government if it had failed to provide the things requested for. But here it is the mistake of the people who were working in the home ministry and people who are working in the jail."

Chairman of Mangaluru Urban Development Authority, Haji Ibrahim Kodijal and others were also present on this occaison.

On this occasion Ivan also revealed that he has been awarded with honourary doctorate in "People's Development" and "Upliftment of the marginalised" by the Indian Virtual University for Peace and Education.