Dubai: Karnataka Has World Class Road Transport - Minister R Ashok
Pics: Jovin D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai
Dubai, Apr 14 : R Ashok, Karnataka state home minister and transport minister was in Dubai to participate in the 59th UITP (International Association of Public Transport) Congress and Mobility & City Transport Exhibition, which was inaugurated by Vice-president and Prime Minister of UAE and ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Wednesday April 13. During the exhibition, Karnataka was awarded for having one of the best transport facilities in India.
On Wedensday evening, Zafarullah Khan, a well known kannadiga and entrepreneur in the UAE hosted a dinner meet to honour minister R Ashok and other delegates at the Atlantis Hotel, Palm Jumairah, Dubai. The dinner meet was attended by the member of various Karnataka association and other community leaders.
Speaking on the occasion, minister R Ashok said, "I am proud to share the achievement of Karnataka government with you kannadigas here. The transport department in Karnataka has achieved tremendous growth and success after I have taken over the responsibility as minister. High-tech public transport has been introduced in state, and especially in Bangalore. The transport facility in Bangalore is indeed world class. Recognizing our achievements even central government of India has awarded 30 award to us in last three years" he said while thanking for honouring him.
"Now the public transport facilities around state will go top class step by step. We have plan to develop high class transport facilities in every village. We are numero uno in India as far as transport facilities are concerned," he said.
Speaking to Daijiworld on the sidelines of the programme, R Ashok said that State government will complete its full five year term without any problem under the strong leadership of Chief Minister B S Yedyurappa. He ruled out any dissent within the party. "The dissent within BJP you are talking about is just created by media. The electronic media in India just love to create a hype on such matter. In the past three years there had been many such gossips, but every time Yeddyurappa came out stongly and successfully," he stressed.
On query about his assurance on withdrawal of cases against Christians who were booked during church attacks, he said "The delegation of Bishops as well as IFKCA president Ronald Colaco have requested me to take action about the issue. I have assured them that request will be considered. Since this involves lot of legal hurdle, it may take sometime. Exact deadline for the same cannot be given," he said.
On recent conversion controversies in Mangalore. and attacks on minority-run orphanages, he said he was not aware of the proper report due to his travel abroad. I will review the issue discussing the matter with police commissioner of Mangalore Seemanth Kumar Singh once I am back in India, he said.
The delegation included Shankarlinge Gowda, principal secretary of transport ministry of Karnataka state, Peenya MLA Lingaraju, and the other officials.
Earlier Zafarullaha Khan and Sarvothama Shetty welcomed the minister and his delegation for participating in the dinner meet as well as for meeting fellow kannadigas.
Ganesh Rai compered the programme.