Pics: Daya Kukkaje/Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru/Udupi
Udupi, Mar 20: All India Congress Committee president, Rahul Gandhi, arrived at Yermal Thenka by helicopter along with chief minister, Siddaramaiah, on Tuesday March 20 afternoon.
Leader of Congress parliamentary party in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, former union minister, Veerappa Moily, Harsha Moily, in-charge of Congress affairs in the state, K C Venugopal, deputy commissioner of the district, Priyanka Mary Francis, and others were present.
Yermal Thenka
On his arrival, Rahul saw students outside a government school nearly and interacted with the children, before proceeding to inaugurate Rajiv Gandhi National Academy of Political Education at Yermal Thenka. The institution, which has been functioning since the last two years, and has trained about 2,000 young party activists from five districts, got official inauguration today.
Rahul, during his visit to the institution where second third rung leadership is planned to be raised, officially inaugurated it.
Rahul visited the house of Kishore Suvarna, former member of local gram panchayat and fisherman, on the seashore at Yermal Thenka. He gave a patient hearing to problems of fishermen. Chief minister, Siddaramaiah, and Pramod Madhwaraj, were present. In addition to speaking to the family members of Kishore, Rahul got the children sit on his lap, and affectionately patted them. He also enjoyed tender coconut water offered by the family.
Pramod Madhwaraj translated the words of fishermen into Hindi and English for Rahul.
Rahul Gandhi tasted prawns curry and Neerdose in the afternoon and got some information about local delicacies.
Speaking on the occasion, Rahul Gandhi said “This is the land of Narayan Guru who is revered by all people. This is the state where Basavanna walked and lived. There are millions of followers of these people. BJP too talks about these people, praises them. But they do not follow their principles. On one hand, they praise great people and on the other hand, they practice division of people. Is this right? Why should they talk something and act something?”
“Prime minister Modi promised the nation many things. Did he give anything? We know the destruction note ban has caused to the nation. There is no money in banks now. Whatever was left is taken by rich people who run away from the nation. Economy is in bad state now. Banks are known now for non performing assets. This is the place where 5 top banks took birth. You understand when I talk about banks and economy. Ours is the only government which has waived Rs 8,000 crore of farmer loans. Karnataka government has done so much for development when the Union government has failed in all fields,” he added.
Rahul Gandhi continuing his scathing attack on PM Modi and the BJP said," Narendra Modi had made three main promises before coming to power. He had promised bring back black money and deposit Rs 15 lacs to every Indian's account. But four years have passed his promise remains unfulfilled and he has failed to deposit even Rs 15."
He further said, "Our government had created over 2 crore jobs for the youth. But the NDA government led by Modi has failed to reach even one lac jobs in their last four years of governance. Modi has also disappointed farmers by not fulfilling their demands and has not even provided minimum support price (MSP). Whereas our Congress government under Siddaramaiah has been providing 3 lac interest free loan and also free rice to almost one crore families of the state. Our government has helped three times better than the previous governments. Girls are getting free education unto post graduation. We are following the teachings of Basavanna and Narayana Guru,"
"Our government has become a development model. But the BJP has been indulged in divide and rule by spreading hatred among the people. Modi says in the last 70 years Congress has done nothing. By saying he is insulting thousands of people who have sacrificed their lives in building a strong nation like India. Today if other countries are respecting India it is because of the sacrifice of thousands of Indians,” Rahul concluded.
CM Siddaramaiah speaking on the occasion said, "People of Karnataka have been supporting our rallies led by Rahul Gandhi by arriving in huge numbers. In our five years of governance, we have fulfilled the election promises but Modi did not. Due to our reforms like nationalization of banks, women, poor were benefitted and it also helped in the development of small scale industries thereby development of rural areas,”
"In the name of development, Modi went ahead with demonetization which was an utter failure. In Goa Modi once had said that few people were sleepless. It is not the powerful people but the common man and the poor who are sleepless now because of demonetization. Businessmen, corrupt people converted their black money into white. Modi government is u-turn government and they divide people in the name of religion. They have been making coastal region a hub for communal tension only with an intention to grab power. But the people of coastal region are smart and will not be a victim of communal polarization. We will once again come to power and form a secular government," Siddaramaiah said.
Earlier report
Mangaluru: Rahul Gandhi arrives in coast for two-day visit, road shows
Mangaluru, Mar 20: All India Congress Committee president, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday, March 20, arrived at Bajpe International Airport here. The visit is part of the third phase of the 'Janasheervada Yatra' headed by Rahul in the state.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, leaders Mallikarjuna Kharge, Dr G Parameshwar, K C Venugopal, Ramanath Rai, Ivan D’Souza, MLA J R Lobo, mayor Bhaskar Moily and others received Rahul Gandhi.
Mangaluru
Rahul left to Kaup by helicopter at 11.45 where he will take part in the inaugural of Rajiv Gandhi National Academy of Political Education at Yermal Thenka between 12.55 pm and 1.35 pm. He will hold corner meeting at Padubidri from 1.45 pm to 2.20 pm. He will arrive at 3.30 pm at Mulky where Dakshina Kannada district Congress Committee will receive him. He will take part in a 20 minute programme at Mulky.
A road show ending with a meeting has been arranged at Suratkal from 4.20 pm to 4.50 pm. He will reach the city and hold road show from Ambedkar Circle to Nehru Maidan from 5 .20 pm. A mega convention of Congress workers will be held from 6 pm to 7.30 pm at Nehru Maidan. During the current visit, he will visit Kudroli Lord Gokarnanatha temple, Rosario Cathedral and Ullal Dargah from 7.30 pm and 9 pm on Tuesday.
The 'Janasheervada Yatra' headed by Rahul Gandhi, will reach the city after covering part of Udupi district and then moving via Mulky and Suratkal, on Tuesday March 20 evening.
Arrangements have been made at Circuit House here for the night stay of Rahul Gandhi and the suite in which Narendra Modi had stayed during his Lakshadweep visit has been kept ready for the purpose. Special Protection Group already visited the venue and inspected security aspects.
Although in the past Rahul Gandhi was planned to hold meeting at Karwar and then travel along Uttara Kannada and Udupi districts by helicopter before entering Dakshina Kannada, the visit to Udupi district got pruned as Karwar visit was cancelled for various reasons.
Rahul is coming to the district for the first time after becoming the national president of Congress party. All arrangements have been made to receive Rahul on a grand scale and hold his road shows and meetings in an impressive manner. Added to this, Rahul will also be staying at Circuit House here overnight on Tuesday.
During his two-day visit, Rahul will hold road shows and meetings in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Chikkamagaluru and Hassan districts. His earlier Yatras in north Karnataka had drawn tremendous response. Rahul is expected to let lose his criticism on BJP and Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, during the tour, like in the past.
With this, Congress plans to give a fitting reply to BJP which had created waves in coastal Karnataka with the meetings held with the participation of national president, Amit Shah between February 19 and 21. Rahul will also be meeting block presidents, district level leaders and state leaders separately during his visits. This strategy is expected to buoy the spirits of party workers.