Shreyas HS
Daijiworld Media Network-Mangalore
Mangalore, Mar 12: Straight away delineating the developmental agenda that is close to the ground reality of Mangalore, AAP (Aam Admi Party) candidate and erstwhile airport director M R Vasudev in an exclusive interview to Daijiworld said Mangalore International Airport has to accommodate a bus terminus of international standards and a subordinate railway station close to the airport to ease the travelling burdens of the commuters.
Views on Development
M R Vasudev attacking the apathy and poor planning of the administrators, in other words the government, said Mangalore is one of the best places in the country on the lines of Infrastructure, but governments all these years have failed to yield best results from the district. So far, irrespective of the party in power, the focus of development has been Bangalore due to which the capital of the state is overloaded and people have began to suffer because of the unregulated and unplanned development. However, as far as DK is concerned, this is a district which has all forms of connectivity, namely roadways, railways, and airway which till date have gone through many obstacles in its upgradation. Roadways and railways in the district have been neglected, with successive legislators pushing the issue into the oblivion.
“According to me Mangalore has every resource pertaining to major sectors like education, health, infrastructure, fishing, industry and many more. But the MPs and MLAs who came all these years were least bothered to give a perfect shape to these sectors," said Vasudeva.
Further, speaking on the industrial sector, he said Mangalore is a highly preferable place for the sector and it should be considered with seriousness. "But the government is investing money in the wrong places and with a less holistic approach. More and more industries have to emerge creating job opportunities for local youths. This also helps those who migrate in search of livelihood or better future," he said.
Shortage of doctors in rural areas
“Despite establishment of umpteen number of medical colleges in the district, rural places in DK still face shortage of doctors. During my visit to rural areas, I have seen a lot of villages where people have no access to medical facilities in their vicinities, which forces them to travel long distances to see doctors for treatment. Doctors have to serve in rural areas. Health centers need to be set up in every nook and corner of the villages. This would facilitate the villagers in having better access to healthcare," he added.
Connectivity
Vasudeva, speaking on the prospects of airport, of which he is the former director, stressed that a bus terminus of international standards needs to be set up at the airport. "Also, a railway station has to be built below Kenjar. This will give a comprehensive connectivity to the airport and ease the burdens of the commuters, he felt.
Campaign strategy
When quizzed on the campaign strategy of the AAP in the district to give tough competition to two major political parties BJP and Congress, he contended, "Our strategy is meeting every individual in the district in person and create awareness of the current apathy and corruption in the system. We are here to represent the views of aam aadmi (common man) and not our personal views."
Further, stressing on the views of the common man, he lamented that development in the district over the years was without the collective consensus of the views of the locals. The discussions on development in the parliament or anywhere is unilateral, he criticized.
Countering the question on AAP's snail-paced preparations ahead of general elections, he said, “We were less in number. After many membership drives in the district the party has managed to garner more support. Now the party feels that the time is ripe to display the power of AAP. "Without wasting any time we will begin our strong political campaign in the district," he said.
Views on Yettinahole Project
Breaking the silence on AAP's lukewarm involvement in the protests against the controversial Yettinahole project, Vasudeva defending the party said, “We are a bit confused about the project. Both the Congress and the BJP were involved in the process of pushing the project. But now both are opposing it blatantly and playing a blame-game. We are a party with a difference and we keep away from exchange of allegations. We have now come to a decision to oppose the project with a new dimension of protests during the election campaign. AAP will not use the issue for electoral gains. Perhaps this was one of the reasons AAP refrained itself from the clamor created by other parties in the district," he explained.
"Most of the skewed projects such as Netravati diversion and Niddodi power plant have been dumped in the district as against the interests of the locals. This is a disastrous and distressful development and if such mindset of the state government continues to prevail on the district, the day is not far when we will have to vociferously demand a separate statehood for Tulunadu," he added.
Winnability and credibility as a candidate
When questioned on his winnability and credentials as a candidate, he came up with a confident answer: "I am just representing the views of the people. If I happen to assume the MP post, I would be happy. Winning or losing does not matter too much to me but I would certainly create a political ripple and give a tough time to B Janardhan Poojary of Congress and Nalin Kumar of BJP."
“I am a common man too and I absolutely have no money to spend from my pocket. Even AAP has fewer funds to distribute to each of its candidates.” Saying this, he requested daijiworld readers and NRIs to extend financial help to him to contest the elections in an effort to change the system.
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