Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Mar 15: State medical education minister, Ramdas, termed the contribution of the railway budget to Karnataka as big zero. “The central government has meted out step motherly treatment yet again to the state. This is happening, in spite of the fact that a man from our state is in the railway ministry, and several MPs from Karnataka are in charge of important portfolios,” he commented.
Ramdas urged the union government to bring out a white paper on the projects undertaken by the railway division here during the last two decades, total outlay of these projects, and their contribution to Karnataka coast. “I wonder on which moral grounds Congress leaders like Oscar Fernandes, Janardhana Poojary, and Veerappa Moily, are seeking votes from the people of this region,” he said. He said that the railway ministry has sanctioned only those railway lines which are not more than 70 to 80 km in length. He also charged the central government of totally neglecting north Karnataka and coastal Karnataka while drafting the railway budget.
Ramdas said that the state has been contributing its share of funds to 14 railway projects, but said the central government, after promising to take up important railway projects, has been doing nothing. By opening rail route between India and Bangladesh, the Congress government has facilitated 3.5 crore illegal immigrants to take shelter in our country, who are being used as vote bank by the Congress, he alleged. He accused the Congress leaders of failing to solicit votes on development plank, and hence, trying to score by sullying the leaders of other parties.
Ramdas said Congress has violated model code of conduct by seeking votes in writing through letters sent to teachers, and by making use of Teachers Cooperative Society for this act. He revealed that BJP has already filed complaint to the election commission.
Chairman of Coastal Development Authority, Nagaraja Shetty, district president of the party, Uday Kumar Shetty, Devadas Shetty, Sudhir Shetty, and Ashok Kumar, were present.