Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jun 12: MP and minister of state for ministry of labour and employment, ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises, Shobha Karandlaje addressed the media, highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s achievements during his 11-year tenure as the country’s leader.
Speaking to media, Karandlaje said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi served as the chief minister of Gujarat for 13 years and has been serving as the Prime Minister of India for the past 11 years. People were weary of the UPA government, and in 2014 they opted for change. Modi promised four key objectives upon becoming Prime Minister: corruption-free governance, global recognition for the Prime Minister, development, and national security.”
She added, “Today, India is 95% self-reliant (Aatmanirbhar) in terms of weapons production and has exported arms worth Rs 23,662 crore. The Prime Minister has ensured corruption-free governance and large-scale development, with rapid progress in areas such as national highways, railways, railway electrification, airport expansion, and significant investments in education and infrastructure. India has become one of the fastest-growing countries in the world.”
Responding to allegations by the state government that the Centre has withheld funds, Karandlaje stated, “Between 2004 and 2014, Karnataka received Rs 1,44,058 crore, whereas from 2014 to 2024, it received Rs 5,42,341 crore—an increase of 275%. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should answer for this misinformation.”
When asked about her contributions to the coastal region during her tenure, Karandlaje spoke broadly about her service to the state but did not list specific projects related to the coastal areas.
Addressing the issue of violence in Manipur, she explained, “Manipur shares a porous border with Myanmar, lacking proper fencing. This has led to cross-border smuggling of narcotics and weapons. The unrest began when efforts were made to bring it under control.”
Regarding the state government's decision to conduct a fresh caste survey, she said, “This is a tactic to divert public attention from their failures, especially the recent stampede in Bengaluru. The intention seems to be to divide people along caste lines and create further unrest.”