Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (MS)
Bantwal, Jun 27: Former minister Ramanath Rai on Wednesday June 27 said that he is ready to contest in the coming Lok Sabha elections if the Congress high command gives the nod.
He was speaking at a press conference called at the Congress party office at BC Road near here.
Rai said, "I am a faithful worker of the Congress party and obey the decision of the high command. The party is getting ready for the parliamentary elections and I am ready to contest if I am given a ticket.
"Administrative sanction has been obtained for all the projects that I proposed for Bantwal during my tenure as minister in the Congress-led government. The work will start once the tender process is over.
"Administrative approval has also been obtained for the second phase of the underground drainage system in Bantwal town area at a cost of Rs 56 lac. Only the tender process and other minor works are remaining.
"I have never been lethargic in my work. I have worked in the Bantwal legislative constituency limits as per the demand of the people of the constituency. However, attempts to defame me have not yet stopped.
"The sanctioning of the work of building a sports stadium at Benjanapadavu is done at a cost of Rs 10 crore by swapping government land with private property. This is the first instance of this kind in the state of Karnataka, wherein government land is swapped with private property.
"Foundation stone has already been laid for Paschima Vahini irrigation project. In addition, sanction has been obtained and tender also called for constructing a two-lane road from BC Road to Punjalakatte at a cost of Rs 150 crore.
"Sand mining was in progress for the last 15 years around Mularapatna bridge, which has collapsed due to dilapidation. When the BJP government was in power, illegal sand mining was going on in this area. Everyone knows who was behind the illegal sand mining," he said, without taking names.
Local Congress leaders B H Khader, Abbas Ali and others were present in the press conference.