‘What Good Work Has This MP done in 10 Years for DK’- Ex-MLA J R Lobo questions Nalin K Kateel
Mangaluru: Quoting “Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones” a proverb used in several European countries. It means that one should not criticize others, because everybody has faults of one kind or another. Another less common but accurate meaning is: “One who is vulnerable to criticism should not criticize others. Ex-MLA J R Lobo addressing the media persons during a press meet held at DK Congress Office, Mallikatta, Mangaluru said, “MP Nalin Kumar Kateel before he accuses and puts allegations on others, he should first find his own faults and straighten up himself. What good work has He done during his tenure as MP of DK for nearly ten years? Absolutely nothing, other than whining and accusing congress leaders of wrong doing”.
Slamming hard at MP Kateel, Ex-MLA Lobo further said, “The delay in Pumpwell and Thokkuttu flyover work is fully due to the negligence of MP Kateel and he is playing politics with an eye on next Lok Sabha elections, thereby accusing minister U T Khader and myself (J R Lobo) wherever he has public meetings. This MP does not have any knowledge on the working on the National Highway Authority of Indian (NHAI). He lacks information about the works of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), especially of the flyover work that is going on at Pumpwell and Thokkuttu. Without any knowledge, he is blaming Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) for delay of work stating that MCC wanted to change the design. I, as the former MLA, or the MLA who was elected before me or MCC never intervened the work of Pumpwell flyover work.”
“Let MP Nalin prove that me or U T Khader have interfered in the flyover plan. I challenge the MP to prove our intervention. Myself nor minister U T Khader never made any changes to the alignment of flyovers and for the fact, the MP didn’t even bother to invite us for any of this project meetings. never invited us to any of the meetings on the project. If He thinks that I or U T Khader have played games, let Him swear in front of deity, and I will do the same. Only the MP has complete hold on NHAI projects as it is controlled by the central government. But Nalin is trying to escape from his responsibilities by giving false information, and putting false allegations on the Congress. Nalin has completely failed to understand the difficulties of people of Mangaluru and never bothered about the slow phase flyover work. He has failed to put pressure on NHAI to complete the construction works between Kottara to Thokkottu. In other cities, officials and contractors complete the flyover works within one year. But it is eighth year for Pumpwell flyover. Still it is in under construction. I cannot understand why the central government and MP of Dakshina Kannada are neglecting Mangaluru? Why they are not finding a solution for difficulties of Mangaluru people?” questioned Lobo.
Lobo further said “MP Nalin had promised that Kankanady Flyover will be completed by December 2018, and then he said it will be done by Febraury 2019, which looks a joke. Probably MP Nalin might have inaugurated the Flyover in December 2018, without our knowledge? And since only a few days are left in February month, until today I have not received any invitation for the flyover inauguration. Could be that the MP is gearing up for the inaugural celebrations or could be he has plans to inaugurate the flyover without inviting anyone. I have no problem that, as far as the flyover is opened by this month end? Recently MP Nalin had submitted a memorandum to Nithin Gadkari, minister of road transport and highways demanding more funds for the completion of Pumpwell flyover. I am surprised to note that why he sat silent for the past four-five years? Why he didn’t give the memorandum earlier? It clearly shows he is doing this for publicity keeping in mind the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. People still do not know what is going on at Nanthoor. NHAI too is unsure whether Nanthoor needs a flyover or an underpass. Day by day the difficulties of people are increasing at this junction,”.
“When politicians speak they should speak about the facts and not spit out lies. On the one hand, we have the list of un-kept promises of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demonetization and GST, which have hit the businessmen and traders in the region hard and on the other, we have the failures of Nalin Kumar Kateel, who has been MP for 10 years, having done absolutely nothing towards the progress and development of the district. I have experience in this field for the last 35 years, and I have knowledge in construction line. We Congress people belong to everyone, irrespective of caste or creed, but that’s not the case with BJP. They are trying to brainwash the citizens through their fake promises and putting false allegations on Congress. This will not last for a long time” said J R Lobo.
“During MP Nalin’s tenure there has been no progress in widening highways at KPT and Bikarnakatte. Highway work between Bengaluru-Mangaluru is in shambles. How about the Highway project between Mangaluru – Moodbidri, no sign of commence. He never showed any interest in the Shiradi Ghat upgradation earlier, but only when the project was completed, he stood front and posed for a photos hoot like a Film Hero, in order to get credit. It was Union Minister Oscar Fernandes who took up all the initiatives for the Shiradi Ghat upgradation. There is also no progress in Coast Guard Academy for the district, nor any signs of IT companies and IIT’s starting up here. How could anyone call him a number one MP, when we can prove Him as a big failure. Other than lying, putting allegations on others, He is also responsible to ignite hate and communal disharmony in the district” added Lobo.
Accusing the BJP MP of failing in all fields, Lobo said, “There has been no new industry set up in the region for job creation, and nor were measures taken to improve agriculture or upgrade the national highway. Has our MP implemented any new projects so that jobs could have been created? Now the BJP government is trying to outsource Mangaluru International Airport to private parties, is this what you call achievement. BJP which is good at pointing faults at others, it can’t even stop the merger of Vijaya Bank with other banks. Then why all these blabbering and adding allegations on me and minister U T Khader, when we have not interfered in the NHAI plans nor have poked our noses into it. MP Nalin should mind his own business, accept his failures before criticizing others “.
While concluding Ex-MLA J R Lobo said, “I have one request to make to MP Nalin Kumar Kateel is that, If he is unable to handle the responsibilities of a MP job, then it is advisable that He should resign his job, and let someone better take up the post and do justice to the citizens in speeding up all the developmental works which are pending since years. Congress representatives namely Kallige Taranath Shetty, Suresh Ballal, Ms Mariam Thomas, among many others were present on the dais.
Replying the allegations on U T Khader, Lobo said, “Being a representative of people U T Khader is inaugurating the union projects. There is nothing wrong in that. At the same time, the seven MLAs of BJP are also inaugurating and laying foundations for the projects of state government. If Nalin cannot stand U T Khader’s presence in the inauguration ceremony of union government projects programmes, then he should prevent his party MLAs from inaugurating the works of state government. If he continues to pull my legs, I will not sit quiet and I will expose him with the help of records. I am not doing politics in the name of community, religion or with an agenda of winning elections.”