Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/SP)

Udupi, Mar 19: Addressing a press meet on Monday March 19, former minister and MLA, Vinay Kumar Sorake, said that Rahul Gandhi was originally expected to attend various programmes between Karwar and Kundapur but that these programmes had to be cancelled because of shortage of time, and only the programmes at Padubidri in the district could be retained.

Sorake added that Pramod Madhwaraj happens to be the unanimous choice for Udupi assembly constituency as he is the only one to have filed application for nomination from there.

He said that as per the programmes chalked out by the party, 203 meetings of booth level workers of the party with the MLA have been held.

"Rahul Gandhi is coming to Kaup constituency for the first time after becoming president of All India Congress Committee. During his visit, road show will be held for three kilometres between Yermal and Padubidri. He will be able to take part in corner meeting only for 35 minutes. Therefore, only Rahul Gandhi and chief minister might be able to address the gathering. Lunch for Rahul will be arranged at Narayana Guru Sabha Bhavana in Hejamady," he stated.

Sorake said that while 350 people will be present at the Sevadal meeting, about 15,000 are expected at the corner meeting with Rahul's participation.

Sorake added that more time has been given during this visit for Mangaluru, which is the main centre. "Yogi Adityanath came to Karnataka to attract votes for BJP. But his own party has lost miserably in Yogi's own constituency as well as in other constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, etc. Congress was defeated in only a few seats and our party will undertake detailed study about reasons for reverses if any and take remedial steps to address the same," he explained.

Sorake said that Congress government in the state has launched several programmes which were not even mentioned in the party manifesto like Mathru Poorna, Indira Canteen and loan waiver. He claimed that there is no anti-establishment atmosphere in the state. "Our chief minister has created a record by presenting 13 budgets. Our budget has laid more emphasis on social welfare activities," he said.

When media persons wanted to know from him about the claim from certain central leaders that 'Anna Bhagya' which his party claims to be his own is a central-sponsored scheme, he wanted to know if so, why it is not implemented in states like Gujarat and Rajasthan in the north.

He said that the government chose to make Kaup a separate taluk although it was never recommended by any of the committees appointed in the past for the purpose of creation of taluks and in spite of the fact that there were no government offices here except the panchayat, and by taking into account the current progress. He said that there was a need for Kaup to be considered a municipality for overall development and it has been achieved.

"We had planned investment of Rs 100 crore in ten years. Now, water purification and supply from Manipal to Kaup with an investment of Rs 57 crore, and repairs, renovation, and construction of 27 bridges were undertaken during the last four and half years. We also have undertaken educational and other development activities here. Considering the importance of agriculture here, we have implemented several schemes like promoting Gulla cultivation. Creation of an IT centre is in progress with world class science centre project cost of which is Rs 400 crore, of which Rs 70 crore has been released," he added.

Sorake stated that soon a taluk level hospital will be established in Kaup. On education front, postgraduate centre at Belapu has come. He acknowledged that there was opposition from Belle panchayat against including it under Kaup taluk, but reasoned that having been in Kaup revenue division (hobli) in the past, it was included in Kaup. He also expected KSRTC bus stand and movement of KSRTC buses in and around Kaup soon. He criticized certain BJP leaders for blocking projects like garbage disposal and sanction of house sites to the poor by opposing them.

Zilla panchayat member and district Congress president, Janardhana Thonse, Kaup block Congress president, Naveen Chandra Shetty, Kaup Urban Planning Authority chairman, Diwakar Shetty and Deep Yermal were present.