Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Feb 19: District BJP president, Mattar Ratnakar Hegde speaking to media persons at a press meet at the town BJP office Kadiyali here on Saturday February 18 said, "The district BJP activists will carry out a major protest near the service bus stand, here against the corruption of the state government and its poor administration.

"People had hope on CM Siddharamayya's government, but all hope has now crumbled. Developmental activities are on a decline. No corrupt politicians have been dismissed from the cabinet so far, despite evidences of video footage," he added.

Taking up the issue of CM Siddharammayya he revealed, "The CM has given Rs 1000 crore to Congress high command to save his chair. As per media reports, IT sleuths raided the houses of Ramesh Jarkiholi, Laxmi Hebbalkar and seized Rs 162 crore of illegal properties. But the state government has neither arrested nor dismissed them from cabinet."

"Work on the steel bridge (flyover) has been taken up, even though the issue is in court and the National Green Bench has imposed an ordinance on it. Rs 65 crore has been paid to CM’s friends and family. With all these problems on hand, the Congress government is rushing to enforce bridge work. An IT raid was conducted on CM’s chief secretary Govindraj which revealed crores of assets. The present UPA government has crossed its previous corruption records."

Tollgate

Replying to media persons on toll fee collection at Hejamady, Mattar said, "As per his knowledge, Suratkal and Hejamady tollgates will merge within six months. BJP opposes toll fee collection without highway work getting complete. It is good for KA 19 and KA 20 vehicles to be exempted from toll fee. District in-charge minister has the power to instruct the district authority on toll fee.

Former MLA Raghupati Bhat interrupting the session said, "Minister Pramod Madhwaraj conducted a press meet on tollgate recently and instructed the PWD to submit a report on highway construction work within four days, but after that no committee meeting has been held and no report has been presented to the public. The minister has a lot of responsibilities for him to work on instead of blaming the central government. What is the need for him to support these protesters against toll fee? Why does he not use his power in this regard instead."

Shyamala Kundar, state secretary, Naveen Kutyar, Shivakumar Ambalpady, Baikady Suprasad Shetty, Katpady Shankar Poojary, Kuylady Suresh Naik and others were present.