Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (ANK)

Puttur, Jan 14: The 42 kilometer long padayathra by the Congress leaders, led by former minister Ramanath Rai against the abrupt stoppage of highway road work between Bengaluru and Mangaluru was flagged off by district in-charge minister U T Khader at Nelyadi near here on Monday, January 14.

Padayathra was named 'Rastriya Heddari Poornagolisi, Janara Jeeva Ulisi' (Complete National Highway and save lives).

Addressing the protesters minister U T Khader said,"Central government has utterly failed in the development and are trying to hide the scams. If they are courageous enough, they should set up joint parliamentary committee on Rafale scam. Our motive is to form a central government led by Rahul Gandhi. In the upcoming election, we will select a capable congress MP from the district and change the vision of the district."

Former minister Ramanath Rai said,"BJP is fooling people in the name of God and is trying to cheat people who have faith in God. I have visited Shabarimala 18 times by doing vrutha and in the matter of Shabarimala BJP people are fooling people."

"Modi led central government are working as puppets of Ambani, Adani and other corporate sectors. When U S Mallya was the MP there were several developments and schemes that benefitted the district. But in the past 30 years, in this Lok Sabha constituency, development is completely neglected. The development work of national highway that was started under UPA government, is sidelined completely now," added Rai.

The paadayathra will culminate at B C Road on January 16.

January 14 - Padayathra begins from Nelyadi to Uppinangady followed by public meeting.
January 15 - Padayathra from Uppinangady to Mani followed by public meeting.
January 16 - Padayathra from Mani to B C Road followed by valedictory programme.

MLC Ivan D'Souza, MLA Vinaykumar Sorake, J R Lobo, Shakuntala Shetty, district Congress president Harish Kumar, district youth congress president Mithun Rai and others were present.