Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Sep 13: "The incident in which stone was pelted at the car of MLA should be properly investigated. I want the truth to come out. There is a tendency to unnecessarily blame Congress party and me for every unpleasant incident that occurs here. I condemn this attitude," said former minister, B Ramanath Rai.

He was addressing a press meet here on Wednesday September 12.

Rai said that he was falsely implicated by someone who had complained that he had forced shops and other establishments to close down during the bandh period. "The truth should be unearthed in this incident too, and legal steps should be initiated against those who are spreading falsehood," he demanded.

Ramanath Rai said that under democratic system, after the bandh call was given, the only thing the concerned could do was to request shopkeepers to close shops with folded hands. He said that only requests were made and no force was applied in any case.

"Bharat Bandh was observed voluntarily. Congress was compelled to call for bandh as there was no other option. Prices of petroleum products are rising even now. It is the duty of the government in power to exercise control on them. The centre has failed to regulate prices. When LPG price went up during UPA regime, BJP had held protest. When Yeddyurappa government was in office, it did not reduce the cess. BJP is trying to shirk from its responsibility by asking the state government to reduce cess now," he pointed out.

Zilla panchayat member, Chandraprakash Shetty Thumbay, Panemangaluru block Congress president, Abbas Ali, Bantwal block Congress president, Mayilappa Salian, former municipal president, P Ramakrishna Alva, Dakshina Kannada district Congress vice president, Baby Kunder, Bantwal Urban Development Authority former chairman, Sadashiva Bangera, and other were present.