Daijiworld Media Network – Karwar (SP)

Karwar, Nov 17: Bhatkal MLA, J D Naik, has accused the district in-charge minister, Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, of discriminating against the coastal regions while releasing grants to the district. He also warned that a protest by way of waving of black flags will be held against the minister if he continues to function in this way.

Addressing a press conference at the travellers’ bungalow in Bhatkal on Tuesday November 16, Naik accused Kageri of sanctioning grants to only those places that are located on the other side of the Western Ghats, to the detriment of the coastal belt. “Bhatkal is a backward region. Due to natural calamities, the roads, houses, agricultural land, crops etc., have suffered a lot. But the government has not released any grants to address this situation,” he claimed.

Naik accused the BJP government of concentrating more on saving the Chief Minister’s chair. He said that the Chief Minister, who is busy in defending himself, has forgotten his development responsibilities and problems of the people. He revealed that he is in support of carving out a separate Sirsi district from Uttara Kannada district, and felt that bifurcation on this line might pave way for the development of  both the coastal belt and the regions located on the other side of the Western Ghats.

He charged the local policemen of behaving like rowdies and harassing people by indulging in collection of weekly protection money and such other things.

Block Congress president, Vittal Naik, leaders like Sripad Kamat, Subraya Naik and others were present at the press conference.