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

Mangaluru, Feb 1: "Nalin Kumar is opposing the Yettinahole project just for political and personal gains. Let him come out of BJP and speak against his party," said B Ramanath Rai, forest and ecology minister and in-charge minister of Dakshinina Kannada.

Addressing media persons at the Circuit House here on Monday February 1, he lashed out at MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and said, "Nalin Kumar is doing drama in the name of Yettinahole project. I cannot do such kind of political drama. I do not want to take political mileage from this project.

"The project was initiated by the late minister Dr V S Acharya and most of the leaders of BJP are supporting it. So if Nalin Kumar is opposing the Yettinahole project, it is just for political and personal benefits. Let him come out of the BJP and speak against the party. A few leaders including Nalin are accusing the Siddaramaiah government of implementing the project even though it was approved by the erstwhile Sadananda Gowda-led BJP government.

"This project was approved in the state Assembly, so if the BJP wants to stop the project, let it pass an adjournment motion in the Assembly and convince its leaders. I will speak to chief minister Siddaramaiah," he added.

"Some of the BJP leaders including C T Ravi are supporting the project and in Dakshina Kannada leaders of the same party are against it. They are just playing with the feelings of the people," he alleged.

Interim president of district Congress Ibrahim Kodijal, mayor Jacintha Alfred, chief whip of Mangaluru City Corporation Shashidhar Hegde, and corporators Sabitha Misquith and Naveen D'Souza were present.