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

Mangaluru, Dec 5: Health minister U T Khader on Tuesday January 5 lashed out at the BJP-led NDA government at the centre over the terror attack on Pathankot air base and said that union government had not learnt from its past mistakes.

Addressing media persons in the city, Khader said, "The NDA government has not learnt from its previous mistakes, instead it has given a wrong message to the world that India is soft-natured towards Pakistan.

"When BJP-led NDA alliance was not in power, it used to criticize the then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh stating 'when Mumbai is being attacked the Prime Minister is writing love letter to Pakistan'. In spite of this, the UPA government had taken a firm stand that peace process would begin only after terror activities were curbed. But now after the Pathankot incident it is evident that the visits of Prime Minister Modi and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj have benefited only Pakistan and not India," he said.

"Earlier the world was looking at Pakistan with suspicion. But PM Modi's and Sushma Swaraj's visits to Pakistan have sent a message that India is following Pakistan. In 1999, the Kargil war took place after the then PM A B Vajpayee's visit to Pakistan, and now the Pathankot incident has followed PM Modi's visit. The NDA government has not learnt from its mistakes," he added.

Accident Insurance Scheme

The minister also said that on January 8, chief minister Siddamaiah will launch accident insurance scheme in the banquet hall of Vidhana Soudha. "This scheme will provide treatment of up to Rs 25,000 to the accident victims for the first 48 hours, as the victim normally becomes concious within 48 hours of the accident. Later the victim's kin or the victim can decide whether they want to continue the treatment in the same hospital or not. Even the workers, truck drivers, students from different states can avail the benefit of this scheme. This initiative has been appreciated by the Prime Minister in his 'Mann Ki Baat'."

He also said that the same day, 'Danta Bhagya' scheme will kick-start across the state.

When asked about alleged violations of the Forest Act by the officials of the regional empowered committee during their inspection of Yettinahole project site, he said, "If there has been any violation, let those who are against the project question it in the National Green Tribunal."

Information office Khader Shah was present.