Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SB)

Mangaluru, Apr 29: Advisor to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and internationally respected telecom inventor, entrepreneur, development thinker, and policy maker Sam Pitroda said that Karnataka election manifesto was prepared by senior Congressman Verappa Moily after taking suggestions from every section of the state.

Addressing media at Congress office on Sunday, April 29, he said, “I am not involved in the preparation of the state election manifesto, but I only suggested what could be included in it. Based on my previous experience as chairman of manifesto committee during Gujarat elections, I shared my views with Moily, who has successfully put forward the party’s vision for Karnataka in the manifesto. Meeting people and understanding their requirements is not an easy job. But he end result will be more meaningful.

“Moily has taken the views of every sector including students, farmers, technical experts and every section of people in state into consideration while preparing the manifesto,” he said.

Speaking on the challenges faced while preparing a manifesto, he said, “India was far better in 1942 when I was born. Now, the rising population is a big challenge. That is the reason we cannot concentrate on every single man. We are producing billionaires, but still cannot decrease poverty. So we all need to think on it. For this, we should use modern technology and put into use its advantages.

“Karnataka election will be an indicator of next year’s Lok Sabha elections. It will show how the mood of people is and how much frustrated they are with Modi government. Congress will face this election boldly,” he said.

Slamming BJP he said, “BJP is criticizing that India never saw any development in the last 70 years. It is an insult of Indian citizens. We, the people, should answer this criticism. Seventy years ago, we had only 20 lac telephone connections. But now it has reached a billion. Polio programme which started in Rajiv Gandhi’s term has now reached every level. Bengaluru has become a world IT hub. Are these not developments?”

“There are discussions in the party to start preparing a national manifesto for next year’s Lok Sabha elections. The party leadership will decide who will be included in the preparation committee and who will be the chairman,” he said.

Harish Kumar, district Congress president and Congress leaders Naveen D'Souza were present.