Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JD)

Mangaluru, Nov 30: The district Women's Congress on Monday November 30 staged a strong protest against the ruling NDA government at the centre against various issues like hike in the prices of essential commodities and reduction of grants to schools. The protest was held in front of DC''s office.

Addressing the protest, state Women''s Congress president Lakshmi Hebbalkar said, "India has always been a country of unity and diversity, but today people are commanding what to eat and what not to eat. Such kind of moral policing is very harmful for democracy."

Taking a jibe at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi''s ''Mann ki Baat'' radio talks, she said, "Every three months a new advertisement comes up about some scheme, but unfortunately the outcome is heard only on radio."

Commenting on the PM''s foreign tours, she said, "From one-and-a-half-years we have a confusion about who is the foreign affairs minister of the country. Sushma Swaraj, even though she is foreign affairs minister, is not found with Modi in his foreign visits. This shows that Modi is just a person who likes publicity."

She also alleged that the centre was showing a ''step-motherly'' attitude towards Karnataka in giving grants as drought relief, in comparison to grants announced for neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu.

She called upon the Congress workers to protest only if someone was doing something wrong and not protest just for sake of it. "We should not just protest for the sake of protesting. We must work for the welfare of the people. If the BJP government does good things, we should appreciate."

Health minister U T Khader said, "Modi came to power promising that he would fulfill people''s wishes, but he has totally fooled the public. Even though BJP has three-fourth majority in the parliament, no programme or policy has been taken up for youth who are the working force of our country or students who are the future of our country. The government has curbed grants to schools. In parliament no one speaks about farmers. We want answers from the government to these issues."

Commenting on the issue of black money, he said, "They (BJP) said black money would be brought back and Rs 15 lac would be deposited in everyone''s account, but they have not even given Rs 15. They are talking about bringing back black money, but someone please bring our PM back to India first.

"BJP is ready to compromise with anything or anyone for the sake of power. In Jammu and Kashmir it formed coalition government with PDP and then released a terrorist. Pakistan flag is being waved in Kashmir. They say they have strengthened the army, but what answer do they have for these acts?" he added.

President of district Women''s Congress Mamatha Gatty said, "The ruling BJP has fooled the people. Prices of essential commodities have touched the sky. It has become difficult for the poor to lead a comfortable life. We call upon all the women to unite against this and urge the central government to control the price hike.

"The Modi regime has also curbed the RTE Act and reduced grants, along with which grants to taluk panchayats and zilla panchayats under the 13th Finance Commission have also been reduced. BJP said it would strengthen the panchayat raj system, but reducing grants is totally in contrary to this.

"When UPA had won the general elections, Sushma Swaraj had said if Sonia Gandhi became the PM she would shave her head. This was the first statement of intolerance, and now we have BJP saying there is no intolerance," she added in a sarcastic note.

"Communal forces in the district are active only because of BJP. The murder of Harish Poojary is a clear evidence to it," she alleged.

MLC Ivan D''Silva said, "The union government is not responding to the demands of the common man. BJP is indulging in revenge politics by reducing grants to schools. It has reduced grants even for midday meals which is very shameful.

"The PM is speaking on differents Baats (Mann ki Baat), but the problems of the common man are still not resolved. In Jan Dhan scheme, it was said Rs 5,000 will come to your account, but not even a paise has come to anyone. Instead, the amount of Rs 30,000 crore has been deposited in banks and the union government is drawing the interest from it. The union government spends so much money on adverstisements for projects, but nothing has been done except publicity. The BJP government is just taking credit for everything and promoting only capitalists," he said.

MLA Shakuntala Shetty also spoke against inflation and atrocities against women. "When elections approach in the state, there is conspiracy to divert people''s minds with communal riots. I urge the police force to work with a free hand and take stringent action against those indulging in such things," she addded.

District Congress interim president Ibrahim Kodijal, Youth Congress president Mithun Rai, AICC member P V Mohan, head of Congress district SC/ST committee Padamanabha Naringana and others were present.