Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Feb 27: "BJP won the zilla panchayat elections even though the ruling Congress has an influential minister (Vinay Kumar Sorake) from this district. People have chosen BJP for transparent and corruption-free administration," said Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje.

She was speaking at a felicitation ceremony for BJP candidates who won the recent zilla and taluk panchayat elections. The ceremony was organized by the district unit of BJP at Chittaranjan circle here on Saturday February 27.

"The centre has released the first phase of funds for gram panchayats under the 13th Finance Commission. We are still a little weak in Udupi and we need to strengthen. BJP national leaders are expecting wins in all the five constituencies of Udupi in the next Assembly elections," she said.

"The Karnataka chief minister has been saying bad things about BJP and this shows where he is heading. He is indulging in hate politics. People of this district have given him a fitting reply," she added.

Commenting on the JNU row, Shobha lashed out at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and said, "JNU professors are moulding anti-nationals and supporting them. Rahul Gandhi is supporting anti-nationals wherever they are. He first went to Hyderabad Central University after the death of Rohith Vemula, and now he has gone to JNU twice. The Congress leaders have been fooling the people saying that their party brought freedom to the country, but now people have realized the truth. Rahul Gandhi has never visited a needy person's house, but to JNU he went twice."

She further said, "When UPA was in power it did not do anything for soldiers but after PM Narendra Modi came to power, Rs 1 lac crore was set aside for the safety of soldiers in budget.

"Even though Congress is in power in the state and even though there are several scams, Modi has helped the state by sanctioning coal. In Udupi, more than paddy, vegetables and cash crops are being given importance. Farmers are in trouble and the CM needs to examine the situation. The Rural Development Action Plan for Udupi has not been approaved yet and the DC has already complained about it to the state government," she added.

She also commented on district in-charge minister Vinay Kumar Sorake and said, "Sorake is not going beyond Kaup. As a minister he should be touring the state but he has confined himself only to his constituency."

She called upon the BJP workers to work unitedly for the next Assembly polls and seek guidance from the party leaders.

Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar said, "The ruling Congress did not get satisfactory results in the recent zilla and taluk panchayat elections. This is an indication of the results of the next state Assembly elections. The Congress workers went to each booth and lured people with money, but the people gave them a fitting reply and in Udupi, the voters made BJP win by a big margin.

"The BJP had lagged behind in the last Assembly elections but six months later it bounced back in the panchayat elections. The state government has not done any responsible work. BJP members and leaders have worked sincerely. We did not indulge in any false propaganda or lies for votes. We just told people to vote for us for Hindutva and development," he added.

"In Udupi district there are four MLAs and a minister from Congress but none of them has responded to the problems of the people. The state government has failed to give a clear picture on the Kasturirangan report and 9,11 forms.

"Before the elections Siddaramaiah had said that district incharge ministers should take responsibility if Congress loses in their respective districts. Who should take the responsibility in Udupi?" he questioned, in a snide remark at Vinay Kumar Sorake.

"This is strange state government. Over 1,600 farmers have committed suicide and over 400 women have been killed, but there is still no solution. In the three years of the Congress government, the CM has not held a single progress review meeting in Udupi, not even a discussion. There are 33 ministers in the state but more than 20 of them have never come to Udupi. The CM did not come for Paryaya also. Siddarmaiah does not want Rama, Krishna (Hindu Gods) or Raita (farmer), the Congress only wants Afzal Guru," he said.

"In the next Assembly elections, BJP will come to power in all the five Assembly constituencies of the district," he asserted.

MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary, former MLA Raghupati Bhat, BJP district president Thingale Vikramarjuna Hegde, Naveen Kutyar and others were present.