Daijiworld Media Network -Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Oct 31: MLC Manjunath Bhandary praised the Congress government for fulfilling several assurances made in their manifesto to the Malenadu and Coastal areas within the first 100 days after coming into power. Bhandary emphasized the government's commitment to delivering on all the promises in their manifesto, asserting that the Congress government is taking concrete actions to benefit the people. He also noted that the opposition party continues to criticize the government's pro-people programs.

Bhandary made these comments during a press conference held at Congress Bhavan on Tuesday, October 31.

He mentioned that Home Minister Parameshwar was responsible for the manifesto, which was prepared after visiting each district and interacting with the people. The government announced ten assurances for coastal Karnataka. Bhandary contrasted this with the previous government's announcement of the Narayana Guru Development Corporation, which, he claimed, did not allocate any funds for the corporation. He assured that the current government would allocate funds in the next budget.

Bhandary highlighted some of the Congress government's achievements, including increasing the loan without interest for fisherwomen to three lakhs, raising the diesel subsidy, and introducing the Bunt Development Corporation. He explained that this corporation would conduct research on the Bunt community's culture, provide financial support to students, and offer medical aid and shelter to the poor.

MLA Ashok Rai added that previous governments failed to acknowledge the Bunt community at the government level. Congress had made the assurance to establish the Bunt Development Corporation, and now the government has taken steps to realize that dream.

Rai took a dig at the BJP, saying they criticize the Congress government's guarantees because they can't tolerate the government's pro-people programs. He pointed out that these programs are empowering women, as 96% of women in Dakshina Kannada are benefiting from government facilities. Rai also commended the government for allocating a historic amount for the drinking water scheme.

He announced a veterinary hospital in Koila, costing 24 crore rupees, which will start construction next year. Additionally, a second KMF unit at a cost of 70 lakh rupees will be established on a 10-acre land in Puttur. The government will provide five lakh rupees to each Kambala and one acre of land to construct Tulu Bhavana. Rai urged the opposition party to contemplate these developments and not play politics with the state's progress.

MLC Harish Kumar voiced concerns about the guarantees announced by the BJP ahead of the elections in five states. He criticized the IT and ED raids on Congress leaders as politically motivated acts of hatred.

Congress leaders Shahul Hammed, Luqman Bantwal, Santhosh Shetty, former mayor Mahabal Marla, and others were present at the press conference.