'Introspect on devpt works in DK before voting'

District In-Charge Minister U T Khader has called upon the voters to introspect on the development works in the district in the last 10 years before exercising their franchise in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Speaking to reporters here, on Sunday, he said the MP, who had been representing the district for the last 10 years, had failed to raise major issues in Lok Sabha. No major grants have reached the district for development works in the last 10 years, he added.

“A strong candidate, who will become the voice of the district in Lok Sabha, should be elected by the voters. The NDA government in the last five years has failed to fulfill the aspirations of the people of the country. The BJP had been raking up only emotional issues to reach out to the people.”

The election is to save Indian Constitution, he added.

When it comes to Dakshina Kannada district, the NDA government took a decision to privatise airport in Mangaluru and also conspired to close down research centre at Kidu.

The government has failed to generate employment as promised to the people of the country in the last five years, he alleged.

On Mandya constituency, he said, “Our candidate is Nikhil Gowda of JD(S). We all will campaign for his victory in Mandya. The victory of Nikhil Gowda in Mandya is nothing but the victory of the Congress. The Congress will support all 8 JD(S) candidates in 8 constituencies. Ultimately, we should work towards winning highest number of seats in Karnataka.”

On Congress candidate from Dakshina Kannada constituency, Khader said, “Who ever is the candidate, ultimately, the voters will vote for the party symbol. The party has already been strengthened at the grassroots level.”

“SDPI is no threat to Congress in the district,” he said and added that Congress would not hold any talks with the SDPI for the withdrawl of its candidate in DK constituency.

To a query on Veteran Congress leader Janardhana Poojary stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be re-elected to curb corruption, District In- Charge Minister U T Khader said, “Poojary is my political guru. We all have great respect for him. I can not believe that he has said that prime minister should be re-elected. He would have taken the name of Modi by mistake instead of Rahul Gandhi.”

On BJP using the video of Poojary’s claim on Modi, he said “If they have respect for Poojary, then they should not field a candidate in Dakshina Kannada district. Let us unanimously elect Poojary as MP from DK constituency. The BJP had stooped to low level to abuse Poojary during the last Lok Sabha polls.”