Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SB)

Mangaluru, Jan 23: "MLC or member of Rajya Sabha is a Constitutional post. There are 10 ministers in the Central government, who are from Rajya Sabha. I think our Member of Parliament (MP), Nalin Kumar Kateel, is not aware of this fact. So he is saying that becoming MLC is equal to back-door entry in government. After my hunger protest against the Vijaya Bank merger, he mocked my MLC post and participation in various government projects. It is my request with Nalin Kumar to ask Arun Jaitley and other ministers in the Union government, who lead the party, to resign," said Ivan D'Souza, MLC and secretary of parliamentary affairs.

He was speaking in a press meet in the city on Wednesday, January 23.

Continuing his address, Ivan said, "I or the Congress party never attacked MP Nalin personally. As MP of our constituency, we are asking him to do something to save our Vijaya Bank. It is his responsibility too. But instead of finding solution for this issue, he is spreading lies and taking the demands of people as personal attacks. Without knowledge of governmental procedures, he is giving wrong statements and blaming others. He should stop this and start to work for the people,"

"In a press meet, Nalin challenged me to contest an election. He mocked at me saying that whatever opportunities I have got are through back door and that I do not have the guts to get on merit. I ask Nalin, if he is full of merits, why no one cares him in his government? Why he did not get any post in cabinet? He should answer these questions. Anyhow, I accept his challenge and if my party permits, I will contest against him and win the election," added Ivan.

Ivan further said, "Every time he gives the statements of crores of rupees of grant and confuses the people. I challenge him to come with a whitepaper on the funds and projects which he has brought to his constituency, excluding regular funding. I will invite him for an open debate on the funding for the district in the past four and half years,"

"BJP is smelling its defeat in upcoming election. So its leaders are trying to destabilise the state governments which is not in their hands. The survey says, the coalition government will win 25 to 27 seats in Karnataka. This has made BJP worry more and it is trying to topple the state government. But all the Congress MLAs are with the government," said Ivan.

Ivan also thanked Sonia Gandhi, Congress high command, Siddaramaiah, KPCC chief Dinesh Gundu Rao and other state and district Congress leaders for nominating him to the post of secretary of parliamentary affairs.

MLC Harish Kumar, leaders Ibrahim Kodijal, Khalid, Mustafa and Siraj were present.