Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network-Mangalore (NM)
Mangalore, Jun 4: Paying homage to the veteran freedom fighter BV Kakkilya, Ramanath Rai, district congress president, formally introduced the two nominees of congress party for Legislative Council elections from the South-west Teachers' Constituency and South-west Graduates' Constituency, here in the press meet, held in the premises of Hotel Woodland on Monday June 4.
Addressing reporters, Ramanath Rai informed that SP Dinesh will contest for South-west Graduates' Constituency and Hosur Ramesh Joyappa for the South-west Teachers' Constituency, scheduled to be held on June 10.
Criticizing the two BJP candidates, he said that though their government was in power, D H Shankaramurthy and Ganesh Karnik, MLCs did nothing for the field of education. The lecturers and graduates faced many problems but the issues were taken for granted, he added.
Listing the false promises of BJP to provide stipends for unemployed youth, rise of salary, recruitment, delay in evaluation, leakage of question papers, increase of retirement age from 58 to 60, consequently rising unemployment of fresh graduates, Rai informed that it was not a matter of concern for the ruling party. Pointing some of the schemes in the field of education like Sarwa Siksha Abhiyana, mid-day meals, scholarships, bank loan, UGC simplification, Rai said that these were introduced by the central government, however state government simply wants the credit.
The congress candidates SP Dinesh and Hosur Ramesh Joyappa contesting for legislative council elections also spoke and asked for the support. Requesting for votes, SP Dinesh explained that there are as many as 57,237 voters in South-west Graduates' Constituency and 22,062 voters in South Teachers' Constituency, comprising five districts and two taluks with a total of 27 taluks from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikmagalur, Kodagu, Shimoga and Davangere.
Promising to start ‘padavidhara bhavan’ in each districts, training for competitive exams, availability of free online application, SP Dinesh said that many funds are passed by the legislative council but it is being misused for selfish purposes.
Questioning the state government, Hosur Ramesh Joyappa asked about the developments they have done so far. The money is only spent on RSS schools, and no care is taken about the government schools, he said.
UT Kadar, Suresh Ballal, Ivan D’Souza, Praveen Alva, Mithun Rai, Ashraf, Moideen Bawa among many others present.