Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Nov 27: “We need Congress-free panchayats in order to have a Congress-free India. The intention of this conference is to install Gram Swaraj, free from Congress. Panchayats will have amazing strength in the future. BJP will win both taluk panchayat and district panchayat elections under five principles of BJP,” said BJP state president, Nalin Kumar Kateel. He was speaking after inaugurating the Gram Swaraj conference held by BJP Karnataka at Saraswati Kalyana Mantapa, Koteshwar.

“The world is looking at India now. Prime Minister Modi has ruled for the last six and a half years without a blot of corruption. 25 houses and title deeds are being issued to every panchayat. We will bring out a special sand policy,” he said.

“Congress is criticizing as it cannot bear development. Cattle were being robbed during Congress rule brandishing machetes. The government of Siddaramaih protected cattle thieves. He did not shed a tear even for the murder of 24 Hindus. There were no murders or communal conflicts in the term of Yediyurappa. We have made Karnataka free from drugs. We have accepted panchayat elections as a challenge. We have made all preparations in booths,” he said.

Deputy chief minister, minister of higher education, Dr Ashwath Narayan said that provision of basic facilities is important in villages so that the number of people migrating elsewhere will be reduced. “BJP is creating a movement for the growth of villages. People should be able to get their works done at village level. We are bound by such an environment,” he said.

“BJP has grown strong in the country for the last six years. We should work in a way that there is no alternative for BJP creating awareness among people,” he said.

State vice-president and MP Shobha Karandlaje, MP Muniswamy, state chief secretary Mahesh Tenginakai, state women’s morcha president Geeta Vivekananda, Kundapur block MLA Srinivas Shetty, Byndoor MLA B M Sukumar Shetty, Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat, Mangaluru division in-charge Udayakumar Shetty, district panchayat president Dinaker Babu, coastal development authority president Mattar Rathnaker Hegde, Udupi district panchayat vice-president Sheela K Shetty, MLA Umanath Kotian, Byndoor Mandala president Deepak Kumar Shetty and others were present.

Kundapur Mandala president Shanker Ankadakatte welcomed the gathering. District president Kuyilady Suresh Nayak gave an introduction. Byndoor Mandala president Deepak Kumar rendered a vote of thanks. District chief secretary Sadananda Uppinakudru compered the programme.