Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru Apr 10: District in-charge minister Ramanath Rai addressing a press meet here on April 10 said, "We do not need Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat', but Congress listens to and understands people's 'Mann Ki Baat'.
"The central government has utterly failed in its approach and this will help us in the forthcoming elections. Petrol and diesel prices have skyrocketed. Currently, one barrel is USD 140, but when UPA government was ruling we controlled the price of petrol and diesel even though BJP were a supporting party. Even price of gas has hiked up to Rs 800. This was almost double when UPA government was in power. This is nothing but anti-people policy taken up by the central government. GST and demonetisation had a heavy impact on the people and they never fulfilled their promises, however as always they preferred to make a U-turn.
"BJP is inconsiderate toward the situation of the people, but in the name of religion and disruption of peace in society they are gaining votes. The state government has lived upto the expectation of the people by fulfilling their promises through introduction of people friendly schemes, loan waiving of farmers, but the central government has never taken any concrete steps to waive farmers' loans. Dalits are agitated over frequent attacks on them and this has heavily impacted them.
"Not only has there been a CBSE paper leak, but also Facebook data leak, Aadhar leak and more importantly election date leaks, which indicates that many leaders were aware about the demonatisation move.
"In the last elections we managed to win seven constituencies out of eight constituencies. This time the state government's achievement will be handy and achievements in the respective constituencies will be a morale boost for us ahead of the forthcoming elections. We are confident of achieving all eight constituencies in the district. People will not support communal hatred as they want to live in peace. Once BJP announces their candidates, there will be rift among the BJP representatives."
On the subject of Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat targetting Ullal, Rai said, "We believe in deity which is our culture, but Bhat is giving it a Hindutva form by delivering provocative speeches and now questions the existance of the deity."
District Congress president Harish Kumar, Mamatha Gatty, MCC chief whip Shashidhar Hegde, Santhosh Kumar Shetty, Padmanab Naringana and others were present.