Silvester D' Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)
Kundapur, May 4: BJP candidate from Byndoor constituency and leader B M Sukumar Shetty on Thursday, May 3, said that he had never asked meals to be stopped at Kalladka school as claimed by minister Ramanath Rai.
It may be recalled that Ramanath Rai had claimed that he was advised to stop flow of funds from Kollur temple for feeding the children of Kalladka and Punacha schools towards avoiding misappropriation of funds by Sukumar Shetty.
Addressing media at the party office at Hemmady, Sukumar Shetty said, “The statement by minister Ramanath Rai is unfounded. Congress which is fearing defeat is spreading rumours. In fact, I have not spoken to minister Rai. Let the minister reveal evidence if any in this regard.
“My aim is that every child in the country should get educated. I am very fond of children. Therefore, nobody will agree that I stopped the meals of school children. As BJP is strong in Byndoor and Congress is afraid of defeat, Rai might have spoken like that due to instigation from desperate Congress leaders. Other than that there is no communication between Rai and me. I am having good rapport with Kalladka Prabhaker Bhat and the propaganda is made without being able to bear it.
“Around 23,500 children were being served meals without any discrimination through Kolluru temple in 2002 before Bisiyoota programme was introduced by the government. B L Shanker inaugurated Mookambika Annaprasada in 2002. I had taken up a house in Nempu, prior to that in 1986 when I saw that children in the vicinity are being deprived of education, and provided food and shelter to 70 children there continuously for ten years. Why will I obstruct meals from Kolluru temple. Kollur temple has provided meals for Congress conference. Where was minister Rai then? Indulging in such cheap politics during elections is shameful.
“BJP has strong influence in Byndoor. People are anguished because of the Congress policy of Hindu suppression. BJP has come to power in 22 states already in the country. BJP will rule in all the states by the year 2020,” he said.
Byndoor Mandala president Sadananda Uppinakudru said that minister Rai speaks as if he has lost mental balance. “Let Congress people admit him in NIMHANS immediately. B M Sukumar Shetty has been working in religious and educational sectors for the last 25 years. It is not clear that the statement of such a person has suggested to stop children’s meals is ironic or fake. Such false accusations are condemnable,” he said.