Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Apr 7: Former minister and senior Congress leader Ramanath Rai released district party manifesto ahead of Lok Sabha polls here at Congress office on Sunday, April 7.
Addressing the gathering, Ramanath Rai said, “Several Congress leaders earlier during their tenure have taken up developmental activities in the district. This is our district Congress manifesto and we have clearly mentioned the demands of the district in it. This is not a ‘jumla’ manifesto but a realistic manifesto.
“In the manifesto, we have promised that we will take action to withdraw the recent Vijaya Bank merger and restart it again. Apart from it we have also mentioned about developing small scale industries, to make sure Tulu language included in the 8th schedule of the Constitution, construction of ESI medical college, to stop privatisation of Mangaluru airport, and introduce pension scheme for auto rickshaw drivers and other organisations. Developing the old port and direct connectivity to the new port at Panambur and many other development works have been mentioned in the manifesto,” he said.
KPCC vice-president Prof Radhakrishna said, “The reverse trend will start from Mangaluru as Mithun Rai will be victorious in the upcoming election. Modi and Amit Shah are hypocritical leaders and they have sidelined senior leaders like L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi which shows their culture. Before elections, Modi had promised 37 slogans. The 'Slow Guns' of Modi has destroyed the economy of our country.”
When asked about state government withdrawing 142 cases, Ramanath Rai said, "The process was started three years ago and the decision was taken in the cabinet meeting to withdraw those cases.”
Former MLAs J R Lobo, Abhayachandra Jain, district Congress president Harish Kumar and others were present.