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

Mangaluru, Nov 4: Member of Parliament (MP) Nalin Kumar Kateel said that after November 25, he will lead a delegation of Dakshina Kannada BJP, environmental activists and experts to meet union ministers Prakash Javdekar and Uma Bharti and urge them not to issue environmental clearance to Yettinahole project and not to sanction financial grant to the project.

Addressing a press meet at the BJP office here on Wednesday November 4, Nalin Kumar said, "The padayatra by BJP against the Yettinahole project was successful in giving a wake-up call to the state government. The work has been put on hold and a new proposal has been prepared to take treated water from Bengaluru to Kolar. This is because of the padayatra held by BJP. The chief minister has also called for a meeting on the issue, but for various reasons it is getting postponed."

Commenting on recent incidents of crimes in the district, he said, "In the past 25 days, as many as seven murders have taken place in the district. The police and the home department have completely failed. Though there are four ministers from the coastal region, there is no protection for the common man. Clashes have erupted even in villages like Nellyady and Kokkada.

"The government has created problems like Yettinahole, while failing to solve the existing problems. People are being attacked while walking on the road and two inmates have been murdered in jail. The jail incident is the first of its kind in the entire Karnataka, but the district incharge minister (Ramanath Rai) and the home minister (Parameshwar) have failed to call a meeting of the police officers in the district or suspend officials who were responsible for the clash, or even to demand a speedy probe into the case," he lashed out.

"On November 9, Mangalore north and south BJP will hold a protest in front of Dr Ambedkar statue near Town Hall, demanding investigating into the seven murders in 25 days and suspension of police officers," he informed.

Commenting on chief minister Siddaramaiah's remarks on beef, Nalin said, "Let the chief minister eat anything he wants, but he should respect the sentiments of the people. He is CM not only for Congress but the entire state. This kind of irresponsible statement has created tension in the state. He should not provoke the sentiments of people.

"There are lots of problems in the state, like caste wars, protest over Kalasa Banduri project and many others, but the CM is trying to save his chair and not solving these problems. If he cannot handle these issues, let him resign," he said.

Claiming that the state government had still not submitted its objections to the union government on the Kasturirangan report, he said, "The state government has still not sent its survey report and objections on Kasturirangan report to the union government, though it is claiming that it has done so. If the government is telling the truth, let it release its report publicly to the people.

"November 4 was the last date to file the objections to the affidavit which will be submitted to the Supreme Court, but the state government has not done it. This will affect 42 villages in Dakshina Kannada. The state government is show a lackadaisical attitude."

He also said that the government has failed to curb ganja mafia and illegal sand mining in the district.

BJP district president Pratap Simha Nayak said that BJP will hold Jana Sankalpa Yatre from November 13 to November 22 from Subramanya to Kateel, against the 'failure' of the state government. The BJP will hold 35 public hearings during the rally, he said.

Asha Thimappa Gowda and others were present.