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

Mangaluru, Jul 13: "The road from Canara Bank circle, Balmatta to Karavali circle in Bendoorwell will be named 'Blasius M D'Souza Road' in a programme to be held on July 16," said MLA J R Lobo.

Addressing a press meet at the district Congress office here on Wednesday July 13, J R Lobo said, "For so many years we have tried to achieve this, but due to several reasons the naming was delayed. We had put forth this request to former urban development minister Vinay Kumar Sorake and now the official orders have come. I thank the MCC for making this happen.

"Blasius M D'Souza served as the district president of Congress committee in Dakshina Kannada for several years. He was Mangaluru city council member and later became council president. He was the state legislative council member and also served as labour and law minister. He was one of the most successful men born in Mangaluru.

"Taking note of his work and dedication to society, the state government has decided to honour him by naming the road from Balmatta Canara Bank circle to Karavali circle at Bendoorwell after him. By this we want to send a clear message that those who work for the betterment of the people will not be forgotten," Lobo said.

"Post this programme, south block Congress party workers' convention will be held in Town Hall the same day, where the 125th birth anniversary of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar will also be observed. Opposition leader of Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge will inaugurate while dignitaries like home minister Dr G Parameshwar, member of parliament Oscar Fernandes, M Veerappa Moily, former union minister B Janardhan Poojary, KPCC working president Dinesh Gundurao, ministers U T Khader, D K Shivkumar, Legislative Council chief whip Ivan D'Souza and many other dignitaries will be present. District in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai will preside over the programme."

"Officials are bound to have pressure from politicians"

On being asked about DySP Ganapati suicide case, Lobo said, "No one should commit suicide, be it an official, farmer or any common man. Executive, legislature and judiciary are interconnected. In order for the work to be done, officials are bound to have pressure from politicians, who in turn face pressure from the public. If a senior official asks his subordinate to perform a job and the subordinate feels it is 'pressure' from the administration, it is his personal view. So just because of a statement, trial cannot be done. An inquiry will be conducted and only then the truth will come out. Trial without investigation is not right. CID is alreay investigating the case and the truth will come out.

"If you closely observe the interview given by Ganapati, he has given answers to the questions asked by the anchor. It cannot be considered as a dying declaration and there was a time gap between the suicide and the interview, hence drawing conclusions before investigation is not right. Being an official, talking against the government is against the code, he cannot do so while in service. If K J George had anything against him then why would Ganapati be given charge of Rajgopal Nagar station where so many officials want to be posted," he questioned.

BJP, JD(S) politicising DySP Ganapati's suicide: Congress

Interim district Congress president Ibrahim Kodijal on Wednesday July 13 attacked the opposition BJP and JD(S) and alleged that they are politicising the suicide of DySP Ganapati.

Addressing a press meet at the district Congress office here, Ibrahim said, "The opposition BJP and JD(S) are politicising the DySP Ganapati suicide case and have stalled the monsoon session for the past two days. Ganapati's father in a complaint has claerly stated that his son was suffering from depression and to certify this, there is evidence that he had consulted a doctor here in Mangaluru.

"Why did the BJP not protest over the suicide of DySP Kallappa Handibag? It is clear that there is a political motive behind the protest over Ganapati's case," he alleged.

"Ever since Yeddyurappa became the state president of BJP, he is dreaming of becoming the chief minister in the upcoming elections. The Siddaramaiah-led state government is doing a good job and we will come to power again. Siddaramaiah is one of the best chief ministers after Devaraj Urs. He has fulfilled 80 percent of the promises made in the manifesto," he added.

Asked why FIR had not been registered against minister K J George and the two officers named by Ganapati on the day of the suicide, Kodijal said, "The government has handed over the case to the CID and once the preliminary reports come, the truth will emerge."