Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (JP/GA)
Udupi, May 30: BJP MP Manorama Madhwaraj has made it clear that she will continue her fight against the coal-based Nagarjuna project and Tebma shipyard at Malpe harbour even though BJP is at the helm of governance in the state now.
Speaking at a press conference here on Thursday May 29 Manorama said that she is answerable to the people who elected her as their representative in the last election. During JD(S)-BJP coalition government, she had fought against those industries which pollute the region. Now again she will continue with her fight even during BJP government as she cannot let people down, she added.
She took to task those who supported to have Tebma shipyard inside Malpe harbour. "Where are those people now? How rational it is to have a shipyard inside the fisheries harbour," she questioned. "When shipyard proposal came forward way back in 2004, I had opposed it clearly citing some examples. But former minister Dr V S Acharya, Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat, Kaup MLA Lalaji Mendon and former Brahmavar MLA Jayaprakash Hegde had supported it," said stated.
Developmental works worth Rs 43.05 lac, the highest from her MP's local area development fund had been sanctioned to the Kundapur assembly constituency during the year 2007-08. "It was mainly due to the pursuance of Kundapur MLA Haladi Srinivas Shetty who used to visit my office often asking for funds," she opined.
Replying to a allegation made by Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat that she did not join BJP campaign this time in order to support her son Pramod Madhwaraj, she said that when Pramod had contested from Brahmavar, she had campaigned for BJP candidate. "I am committed to BJP and no one can ever question my commitment in this regard. I still have deep wound in my eye. Hence I am advised to keep myself away from heat and dust. Raghupati can contact my eye specialist Dr Sandeep Shenoy who is also Raghupati's family doctor," she clarified.