Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, May 16: Addressing a press meet here on Friday May 15, former minister B Ramanath Rai, blamed elected representatives of interfering with the functioning of the officials and thus creating problems for migrant workers and NRI Kannadigas in Dakshina Kannada district during coronavirus-related problems faced by them. He said that problems are arising because the people's representatives are meddling with the functioning of officials.

"Workers, migrant workers, and NRI Kannadigas have contributed immensely for the progress of the district. But when they are facing grave problem, our people are treating them shabbily. Even when Congress leaders went to pacify the hurt migrant workers, we were blamed for being responsible to spreading infection. It is the duty of the people in power to ensure that the people maintain social distance and take responsibility," he argued.

Rai pointed out that Kerala government had opened centres to distribute food at the panchayats there to make sure that common people and workers do not face problems. "Our government did not take such measures. Farmers and workers do not command any respect in their eyes," he felt.

Rai said that packages have been announced by governments during lockdown period. Some of them are in the form of bank loans. He added that comments about them can be made once they are implemented. He recalled that during the last year, the government had announced five lac rupees to people who lost their houses due to natural calamity. He wanted the government to come up with statistics about houses provided to such homeless people so far.

Party leaders M Shashadhar Hegde, Abdul Ravoof, Ibrahim Kodijal, Bhaskar K, Muhammed Monu, Sadashiva Ullal, Shalet Pinto and many other leaders were present.