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Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Jun 4: Former minister Ramanath Rai addressed the media here on Thursday June 4, and questioned Mangalore Electricity Supply Company Ltd (MESCOM) over hike in electricity bills creating burden to the citizens already troubled due to the lockdown imposed over the coronavirus outbreak.

Speaking to the media, Rai said, "There is a lot of confusion over payment of electricity bills. It is a burden for people to pay the bill of three months together. The chief minister and district in-charge minister have asked not to pay the bills while MESCOM has not clarified yet if the bill should be paid or not. MESCOM should be clear about their stand on this issue.

"We cannot take this issue lightly. This is injustice to the people at the time of corona. We will raise our voices and fight against the issue if it is not sorted out,” Rai said.

He said while the BJP government is hailing its two years’ achievements, they have privatized airport, port, BSNL, insurance company and the electricity company is on the verge of getting privatized.

He accused the ruling government to have emotionally manipulated and fooled the people taking up sensitive issues in the past two years but have never worked for the progress of the nation rather they have favoured investors, rich and businessmen and neglected the weaker sections. He said that the BJP has concentrated on money, marketing and publicity but not in development.

When asked about the renaming of flyovers controversy, Rai said, "We strongly oppose this move and this is another method to fool people. Koti Chennaya name can be given but to a different place and not to Nehru Maidan which is named after Jawaharlal Nehru."

Former mayor Shashidhar Hegde, Congress leaders Ibrahim Kodijal, Abdul Rauf, Ashok D K, Sahul Hameed, Shalet Pinto were present.