Pics: Nithin Pereira

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (NP)

Udupi, Mar 31: The Udupi district BJP organised a massive protest against the Congress-ruled Karnataka government. The protest began at the district BJP office and concluded at the parking area of Sri Krishna Math, where a protest meeting was held under the leadership of MLA Yashpal Suvarna.

Addressing the gathering, MLA Yashpal Suvarna strongly criticised the state budget, stating, "The way the budget has been presented raises the question of whether Udupi district even exists for this government. Does Chief Minister Siddaramaiah harbour a bias against the coastal region's Hindutva, or is it due to his age factor of 75?"

He further added, "This protest has been organised to show the unity and strength of Udupi's people. While taxes are paid from this district, the government has not allocated any funds for its development. Siddaramaiah, do not test our patience. If needed, people from Udupi will march to Bengaluru and show the strength of our district. Despite submitting requests, the government has turned a blind eye. The chief minister must immediately rectify this neglect and release the necessary funds for the coastal region," he demanded.

Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja, speaking at the protest, said, "This state is being governed like Aurangzeb’s rule. The hard-earned money of Hindus, collected through taxes, is being distributed to Muslims in different ways. Women are not safe in Karnataka. From Bidar to Chamarajanagar and from Kolar to Udupi, crimes like rapes and atrocities are spreading. When D K Shivakumar comes to Mangaluru, he speaks in favour of those responsible for the cooker bomb blast. This is shameful," Poonja stated.

Targeting Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, D K Shivakumar, and Vinay Kumar Sorake, he questioned their decision to provide a 4% reservation to Muslims. "Go back and read history. How did you grant this 4% reservation? Congress is anti-constitutional and anti-Ambedkar. If any party has tarnished the Constitution, it is the Congress government. Congress has done nothing for the coastal districts. This is a matter of shame for them."

Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary, criticising the Karnataka government, said, "This government has not released even the houses allotted by the central government. The failure of the administration is haunting Karnataka. People who chant slogans in favour of Pakistan inside the Vidhana Soudha are being protected. What kind of unfortunate governance is this? The Vidhana Soudha is supposed to be a temple of democracy, but under this Congress government, it has turned into something else."

Addressing issues with the Indrali Railway Bridge, he said, "I have been monitoring this project for nine months. I personally intervened, spoke to officials, and ensured that the necessary materials were brought in. Could your government have done this? Now, when we raise concerns, you call it a protest. Is this fair? In a democracy, you are making fools out of the people, hiding the truth, and spreading lies. The development work that should have been done in the district—I have ensured it happens. But what has your government done?" he stated.

Udupi MLA Yashpal Suvarna, Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja, Kaup MLA Gurme Suresh Shetty, Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar, Byndoor MLA Gururaj Gantihole, Kundapura MLA Kiran Kumar Kodgi, MP Kota Srinivas Poojary, Udupi BJP president Kishore Kumar, CMC president Prabhakar Poojary, former minister Pramod Madhwaraj, BJP leaders Kidiyoor Uday Shetty Kumar, Ratnakar Hegde, Reshma Uday Kumar Shetty, Veena Shetty, and other leaders besides party workers were present at the protest.