Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB/EP)

Udupi, Jul 6: Former MLA Pramod Madhwaraj has termed the protests by opposition BJP that the chief minister has not set aside amount for the coastal and Malnad region in the budget as part of BJP's false propaganda and publicity stunt.

Speaking in a press conference at Udupi press club on Friday, July 6, he said that BJP won in the last election in the name of Modi and Hindutva and there was no mention of BJP's development. “BJP has ignored development and asked votes in the name of Modi.

“There was maximum development during the term of CM Siddaramaiah. The MLAs from the coast met the chief minister when there were just two days left for printing the budget. They should have gone early if they wanted to express their views.

“National Highway on Malpe to Agumbe stretch has not been developed even after four and a half years of its upgrade. There are only newspaper statements about it. Malpe is a big port in the country. But land acquisition and land widening is not over. Why did BJP not protest against Modi?

Speaking on the issue of a book which was released by Pramod Madhwaraj just before Vidhan Sabha elections, mentioning about the projects worth Rs 2,026 crore undertaken by him in the constitution, he said,"BJP commented about the projects saying that the projects were not done by me. The projects mentioned in the book were approved and some are in progress at present. None of them are false. The information in the book has been obtained from five different officials which can be confirmed. He added that the projects can be continued by the present MLA Raghupati Bhat."