BJP govt spent Rs 300 crore for Muslims: Derrick Fullinfaw

[email protected] (CD Network)
March 11, 2012

Derrick_Fullinfaw


Udupi, March 11: Congress and JD(S) governments in the state had only spent around Rs 30 crores each for the development of the minority community, where as BJP government has spent to the tune of Rs 300 crores. It spent over Rs 50 crores for the welfare of Christians, said Christian Development Corporation vice chairman and MLC from Anglo Indian constituency Derrick Fullinfaw.

Addressing press persons at Kunjibettu here on Sunday Mr Fullinfaw said it is the BJP government that came forward to build a Haj Ghar and released Rs 40 crore for the same. “Once completed it will be one of the finest Haj Ghars in India and truly a monument for the Muslims”, he added.

Mr Fullinfaw is a nominated MLA representing the Anglo-Indian community. He was appointed vice chairman of the CDC some months ago.

He said, “During the last two days we met many church priests and requested to support BJP candidate in this by election. They were happy with the development in Udupi over the past three and a half years and they appreciated the government. So development is the key issue in this election. When I asked so many Christians here, they responded saying that there was a lot of good work done and they expressed appreciation for the present chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda.”

Referring to the recent assembly elections, he said, "In Maharashtra, there was a clear indication that there are two national parties in this country. One is Congress which ruled for the last 55 years and the other the BJP. It is the fastest growing party in India and also in the states, in Karnataka and in undivided Dakshina Kannada,"

"On the other side," he continued, "Congress party is the fastest declining party in India, in all state, in Karnataka and in the coastal districts. About 20 years back, when they were ruling, all ministers from the coastal districts held the cabinet status. But today there is no status, because people, especially the minorities, have placed their trust in the BJP. Congress had been using the minorities and the weaker sections as their vote bank. At election time, they promised plenty of things. After the election, they forgot their promises. That is why people have lost faith in the Congress party. Today it is a cadreless party,"

He continued, "Today UPA's allies are involved in various shameful scams. But with the NDA allies in many states of India, everywhere development is going on smoothly. So people of these states rejected the UPA allies and supported the NDA allies. People started keeping faith in prime minster A B Vajapayee. People say the BJP is development; it is a progressive and disciplined party. The BJP is strongly promoting patriotism in this country, so we believe in nationalism."

"Our party believes in genuine secularism and the people are supporting the Bharatiya Janata party. It will win the by-election with a large majority. And our candidate Sunil Kumar is a young, dynamic and patriotic leader. We appeal to all minority leaders to support the BJP not for their own interest, but the main interest of the state," he also said.

Adding further, he said, "So many governments have ruled our state, but no one took interest in the development of Christian community. But the BJP government allotted Rs 50 crore through the Christian Development Corporation. The committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the chief minister, with 15 members from all parts of Karnataka for helping this corporation, and Christian people will receive the grant from this body,"

"We appeal to prime minister Manmohan Singh to follow the way of Karnataka government and allot separate share to Christian and Muslim communities. Union minority welfare minister Salman Khursheed violated the code of conduct at UP election time and spoke on the reservation for Muslims but people rejected that party in that region," he said.

Christian leader Gerald Fernandes Moodublle, Musamun Babu and Veeresh Martin were present at the press meet.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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News Network
December 7,2025

SHRIMP.jpg

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: Public transport in Mangaluru is set for a state-led transformation as the government moves to deploy 100 new electric govt buses to replace unreliable private services. The initiative aims to provide a dependable alternative to private operators who have been frequently "cutting trips," leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

The announcement was made by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV during a public phone-in session. The move specifically targets routes where private bus service has become erratic, ensuring that citizens no longer have to rely on a fluctuating private sector for their daily commute.

Restoring the Govt Presence

The transport crisis was brought to the forefront by Ramayya, a resident of Bajal, who highlighted a growing trend of private buses skipping morning and night trips. With the previous KSRTC (govt) services discontinued, residents have been left without a fallback option.

To fix this, the DC confirmed that the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme will bring 100 government-owned electric buses to the city:

•    Phased Deployment: The first 50 of the new 100 government buses are scheduled to arrive by March 2026.

•    State Infrastructure: Two new government depots, including one at Mudipu, are being prepared for operations.

•    Recruitment: The state has already begun training a new batch of government bus drivers to ensure the fleet is operational the moment it arrives.

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