Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jul 4: BJP Dakshina Kannada district spokesperson for BJP, Harikrishna Bantwal, hit back at former minister, Ramanath Rai, for terming Dakshina Kannada BJP MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, as lazy MP. Bantwal said that Rai, who was in-charge minister for the district, was a great evil for the district.

"Rai has been speaking incoherently out of frustration at having lost power. The puppets who used to sing his glory are no more around him. Therefore, to assert his existence, he keeps issuing such statements. Rai does not have the moral right to deride the MP," he stated.

Bantwal noted that several Congress MLAs who lost in the assembly election have now been pointing at Rai as the reason for their defeat. "He has been an evil not only for the district but also for Congress party," he felt. Recalling the statement of Rai that the previous five years was the golden era for Karnataka, Harikrishna pointed out that Congress government has left behind a loan burden of Rs 2.87 lac crore, which means the liability on each citizen of the state would work out to over Rs 44,000. He questioned Rai how does he term this as golden era, and wanted to know from him why was he was defeated by the people if he had really developed the region.

"Rai developed illegal sand trade, as well as business of transfer and mining business. Two of his close aides were conducting illegal stone quarrying in government land at Bantwal. He remained mum although this was going on in front of his eyes. Why was he silent? Why did he remain mute when illegal sand traders attacked Bantwal police inspector, Manjaiah?" he questioned.

Harikrishna said that the desire to become an MP has kindled in the mind of Ramanath Rai and he has been trying to get a ticket. He stated that BJP will get this seat as reward in a platter if Ramanath Rai is fielded in Lok Sabha election from this constituency.