Ghulam Nabi Azad hits the campaign trail in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi; says JD(S) is finished chapter

coastaldigest.com news network
May 9, 2018

Mangaluru/Udupi, May 9: Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha today campaigned for the Congress candidates in coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi for May 12 Karnataka assembly polls.

Speaking to media persons in Mangaluru, the former union minister hailed the achievements of chief minister Siddaramaiah led Congress government and urged the people to save the state from Bharatiya Janata Party.

Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a liability to the nation as against his portrayal of himself being the 'saviour', the veteran Congress leader said that money power plays a major role in BJP politics.

"They buy voters and gather people to their prime minister’s rally by spending billions. It is not the people who come on their own. They are bought and brought," he alleged.

He added that the Congress firmly believes and shall remain committed to the thought that politics and religion are two different entities which cannot be brought together.

The modus operandi of BJP solely depends on money and not on the performance unlike Congress, he said.

Congress would always fight the battle on the performances delivered and not on hollow slogans and false promises, Azad said.

He said that performance-wise, the BJP is miles behind the Congress. He added that Karnataka and south Indians are very wise and if at all they fall for the money power of BJP, there would not be any such big tragedy in the legacy of politics. It would be unfortunate and only God has to save the country.

However, it will not happen, he stated confidently. BJP is known for preaching and not delivering. The prime minister is also similar as he only preaches and does not deliver, he said.

"He shows the moon but does not even give mud to people. The promises made to farmers, women and unemployed youths are not fulfilled," Azad said.

Karnataka government has offered free rice and other cereals for 65% people and 1.5 crore children are given milk and eggs. The loans up to Rs 50,000 have been waived for each farmer, he said.

Lambasting the BJP and its association with the Reddy brothers, the former Union minister said that the corruption amount of Reddy brothers is equal to four budgets of Jammu and Kashmir.

Claiming that MGNREGS is one of the biggest employment programmes in the world, the parliamentarian said that the programme has benefited 65 crore, unskilled people. It is the biggest social employment scheme, he said.

"The Congress will not make promises but it is committed to delivering. The programmes which were carried out or executed by Congress-led Karnataka government and UPA 1 and 2 were also not promised rather they were silently delivered to people," he said. He said JD(S) is a finished chapter, the party would get a maximum of 10-15 seats.

There are bright chances of Congress forming the government, he said and asserted that he can easily predict from his experience in the state as general secretary in-charge for Karnataka Assembly polls since 1988 and the geography of the politics in the state. "We are on a strong footing when compared to five years ago," he asserted.

Comments

MR
 - 
Thursday, 10 May 2018

Vote for Congress for 5 year of stable govt. under Siddaramiah

Think twice before you Vote for JDS.  

A vote for JDS is a vote for BJP 

We don't want BJP jail bird Yeddy to be our CM. Yeddy looted karnataka from 2008-2013 crime was at all time high

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Media Release
November 24,2025

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Sharjah, UAE: Ayisha Basheer Esra, a talented young writer hailing from Aramboor in Dakshina Kannada’s Sullia taluk, marked a significant milestone in her burgeoning literary career with the launch of her debut novel, The Betrayal of the Kingdom, at the Sharjah International Book Fair. The prestigious event, recognized as the world’s largest book fair, provided a fitting stage for the unveiling of Esra’s work.

The official release ceremony was conducted by Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Director of the Religious Affairs Office of the Sharjah Government and a distinguished member of the royal family, underscoring the significance of Esra’s achievement. Mrs. Lini Shivaprasad, Principal of GEMS Millennium School, Sharjah, had the honor of receiving the first copy of the novel.

The event was graced by the presence of numerous distinguished guests, reflecting the widespread recognition of Esra’s literary talent and the anticipation surrounding her debut novel. Among the notable attendees were Syed Panakkad Munawwarali Shihab Tangal, Dr. Mariam Al Shenasi, the UAE’s renowned writer and Head of Dar Al Yasmin Publications, Dr. K. K. N. Kurup, Retired Vice Chancellor of Calicut University and Historian, Sharjah Businessman Shamsuddin Bin Mohideen, Nizar Talangara, President of the Sharjah Indian Association, V. T Salim, Director of Silver Home Real Estate, Munir Al Wafa, MD of Lipi Publication Akbar, and other esteemed individuals.

At the remarkably young age of eight, Esra has already established herself as a prolific writer, authoring and publishing collections of short stories in addition to her newly released full-length novel. Her dedication to writing and her exceptional talent have positioned her as one of the youngest authors to achieve such literary success. 

Esra is the daughter of Basheer and Haseena, residents of Aramboor, Sullia, and currently a student at Sharjah’s GEMS Millennium School. Her early accomplishments serve as an inspiration to aspiring young writers and a testament to the power of nurturing creativity from a young age.

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News Network
November 30,2025

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Udupi: The pontiffs of Sri Paryaya Puttige Mutt, the sacred seat of Jagadguru Shrimad Madhvacharya Moola Samsthanam, have submitted a proposal to the Prime Minister seeking comprehensive development for Udupi district. 

Proposal for International Airport

A key request is the establishment of an international airport. Highlighting that around 1,000 acres of land are available and suitable, the pontiffs noted that the existing Mangalore Airport provides limited international connectivity. They suggested the airport be developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) or as a Greenfield Airport to boost trade, education, healthcare, and spiritual tourism.

Metro and Rapid Transit Connectivity

The proposal also calls for Metro Rail or Rapid Transit between Mangaluru and Udupi. The 55 km coastal stretch experiences heavy daily commuter traffic, causing congestion. The district administration is ready to prepare an initial project report for a Mass Rapid Transit corridor and requested inclusion under national urban mobility programmes to ensure safe, green, and time-efficient regional transport.

Port and Coastal Development

The pontiffs urged the development of an international-standard port with a cruise terminal along Udupi’s coast. They also requested fast-tracking of pending coastal tourism projects and revising Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms to encourage sustainable infrastructure and hospitality investment.

IT, AI and Technological Infrastructure

Support was sought for an IT and AI Innovation Park with incubation facilities under Digital India and Startup India initiatives. The proposal also emphasized the need for strengthened data security and cloud computing infrastructure to boost India’s technological independence.

Sports and Education Initiatives

The pontiffs requested national sports status for Kambala, along with financial and infrastructure support. They also sought the establishment of an AIIMS in Udupi, a new IIT campus, and approval for an IIM to promote higher education in the district.

Representation to the Prime Minister

Sri Sugunendra Tirtha Pontiff and Sri Sushrendra Tirtha Swamiji represented the pontiffs in submitting the comprehensive development proposal to the Prime Minister during his recent visit.

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News Network
November 28,2025

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Mangaluru, Nov 28: Karnataka Health Minister and Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Friday handed over Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the severe distress faced by farmers due to crashing crop prices.

PM Modi arrived at the Mangaluru International Airport en route to Udupi, where Gundu Rao welcomed him and submitted the letter. The chief minister’s message stressed that farmers are suffering heavy losses because maize and green gram are being bought far below the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The state urged the Centre to immediately begin procurement at MSP.

According to the letter, Karnataka has a bumper harvest this year—over 54.74 lakh metric tons of maize and 1.98 lakh metric tons of green gram—yet farmers are unable to secure fair prices. Against the MSP of ₹2,400/MT for maize and ₹8,768/MT for green gram, market rates have plunged to ₹1,600–₹1,800 and ₹5,400 respectively.

The chief minister has requested the Centre to:

• Direct NAFED, FCI and NCCF to start MSP procurement immediately.
• Ensure ethanol units purchase maize directly from farmers or FPOs.
• Increase Karnataka’s ethanol allocation, citing high production capacity.
• Stop maize imports, which have depressed domestic prices.
• Relax quality norms for green gram, allowing up to 10% discoloration due to rains.

The letter stresses that MSP is crucial for farmer dignity and income stability and calls for swift central intervention to prevent a deepening crisis.

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