Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)
Mangalore, Mar 30: The district BJP on Sunday March 30 countered Ramanath Rai's allegation about MP Nalin Kumar Kateel's 'silence' in the parliament and even provided video evidence of Nalin Kumar raising questions in the Lok Sabha.
District incharge minister Ramanath Rai had challenged that if there was any evidence of Nalin Kumar speaking in the parliament, he would resign from politics.
Taking the challenge head-on, BJP district president Pratap Simha called a press meet on Sunday at the BJP election office and provided video evidence to prove Nalin's participation in the parliament.
"District incharge minister Ramanth Rai is spreading lies and misleading people about BJP’s MP candidate Nalin Kumar Kateel by stating that he has never spoken in the Lok Sabha during the last five years. The news also appeared in various media," Simha said.
"Rai made an irresponsible statement that spending the MP fund was not a big task. The Congress is unnecessarily criticising the BJP candidate," he added.
Throwing an open challenge at Rai, Nayak said, "Let Rai answer about Congress candidate (Janardhan Poojary) and show what he did or how much he spent from his funds during his tenure as member of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha."
In defence of Nalin Kumar, he said, "Nalin Kumar also had a good attendance of 74 percent in the parliament. He asked 24 starred questions (that required to be answered orally), which is not an easy task. He has spoken about the problems of the district."
Mocking Ramanath Rai, he said, "Rai is always sleeping in the Assembly. He needs to tell if there is any session where he has not slept. If there is a single Assembly session where he has not slept, I will retire from politics.
"Spreading lies and rumours has become a habit with the Congress. They have no issues to present before people to seek votes, so they are diverting people's minds with cheap politics. They have lost their sportsman spirit and are fighting the battle like cowards. Ramanath Rai should resign for making such an irresponsible statement," he lashed out.
After addressing the reporters, Pratap Simha Nayak played a video CD of Nalin Kumar Kateel raising questions in the parliament. These sessions were dated March 23, 2011, August 29, 2011, March 20, 2012 and February 27, 2013. In these sessions, Nalin spoke about addition of Tulu in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution, asked Ajay Maken a question on Awaas Yojana, spoke on the problems of sea erosion etc.
"Nalin Kumar also spoke on the problems faced by areca growers. He is a person of good character and conduct, and mingles with the people," Pratap Simha Nayak said.
Capt Ganesh Karnik, Ravishankar Mijar, Nagaraj Shetty and others were present.
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