Mangaluru North: 7 common questions - different answers from Bava, Shetty, Muneer

Harsha Raj Gatty | coastaldigest.com
May 1, 2018

A news-maker for all seasons, the legislator of Mangaluru City North, B A Mohiuddin Bava is contesting for the third time at the upcoming polls. Though Bava had lost to the then-BJP stalwart Krishna J Palemar in 2008 by a margin of 14,426 votes, the former became a giant killer in 2013 and defeated the latter by a margin of 5,373 votes. The incumbent Congress MLA speaking to coastaldigest.com says that despite challenges and allegations, his constituents will put him back to power.

Meanwhile, Dr Bharath Shetty, a dentist-turned-politician, who is first time contesting the election on the BJP ticket, is confident of victory as he sees anti-incumbency wave. Another candidate Muneer Katipalla, well known in the political and activism circles is contesting from CPI (M) and says that he has a chance as people in the constituency are looking for an alternative.

coastalidgest.com posed seven common questions to these three prominent candidates of the prestigious constituency amidst their ongoing campaign for May 12 Karnataka Legislative Assembly polls, and each had a different take:

CD: Do you expect a triangular fight between the Congress, the BJP and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in the constituency?

Bava: No, there will not be a triangular fight. CPI(M) contesting elections may affect Congress votes in two wards, but they will not be able to create a major impact. People are aware of the drastic development I have brought about in this region in the last five years. I can say that I have given more than my 100 per cent to the constituency and managed to concretize several roads and bring over Rs 60 crore grant for the Surathkal market. Also, I have managed to bring in grants to set right the issues in the Underground Drainage in Surathkal. Be it grants for religious institutions or loans for minorities, Congress has brought it all.

Despite being a member of a minority community, I have been elected from an area dominant by other religions. This is the love and trust people have placed on me and I am confident that they will recognize the good work I have done in the last five years and support me. The fight in Mangaluru North will be between Congress and BJP and other parties don’t stand a chance.

Shetty: There are chances that CPI(M) may take a share of votes as there is anti-incumbency against Bava. However, the direct fight is between the Congress and the BJP and there is no doubt that BJP will win the election in this constituency.

Muneer: It will be a triangular fight. Earlier, people did not have an alternative. However, with CPI(M) entering the political fray in the constituency, people are sure to support us. People have seen how the money politics, religious and communal politics and people with vested business interest have played in this constituency and see CPI (M) as the much needed alternative. Our party has been among the people and is known to solve the problems faced by the common man, so people have shown their support during our campaigns.

CD: What are the unsolved problems in your constituency? How would you solve them if you get elected this time?

Bava: There is no department or area in the constituency where development has not touched during my tenure. While usually the state government used to allocate 20 per cent funds for the constituency, I have strived to raise that figure to 40 per cent.

However, my dream of building a hospital has remained unfulfilled and have already got funds of Rs 5 crore from MRPL and 1 crore from NMPT. If I get elected in the next term, I hope to ensure that the construction of 100 bed hospital is complete. The Rs 250 crore fisheries port proposed in Kulai is awaiting approval from Centre. Funds have been sanctioned for 3800 free houses for the poor in the constituency and the work will begin soon. I hope to construct a stadium to promote sports and small industries to create a job market.

Shetty: The development in the constituency is random and unplanned, and if BJP comes to power, we want to take up an integrated approach and solve issues in the constituency. The Congress candidate is going around claiming development. Let him show it on papers. There is needless expenditure done such as the temporary Surathkal market has been constructed with permanent structures. When the market is temporary, why is so much expenditure done? Also, people are alleging for tenders to pass, commission is required to be paid. When selection of the market shops is done by picking lots, how can one pick up a probability of four shops being next to each other? Funds that are being allotted for smart city are being diverted for the underground drainage works. That is not right. During election, people make tall claims. If work was done, it should have been evident.

Muneer: One cannot claim shoddy concrete roads as development, which the incumbent Congress MLA is doing. Development needs to be all-round and that is lacking in the constituency. Do we have a government hospital? Are there Primary Health Clinics with full time doctors? Why there is no government college here? Many industries here are flouting environmental norms and why the governments have done nothing to stop them? Why are jobs in MRPL and SEZ zones given to workers from other states? Why is the drainage system a failure in Surathkal?

Even the opposition BJP has failed to raise its voice. CPI(M) is getting support as the incumbent government has failed. We have two mottos – ‘Fight of the common man against rich capitalists’ and ‘No corruption and No compromise’. We will look into solving all the issues the Congress and BJP government have failed to address.

CD: Early this year, two-innocents - Deepak Rao and Mohammed Basheer were murdered in your constituency by communal forces. Was the Congress government successful in handling the issue? Do you think these incidents will affect your poll prospectus?

Bava: In past five years, no communal incident has been reported in Surathkal. When recently a Hindu and Muslim were killed, BJP tried its best to turn the incident with a communal-overtone. However, the law and order was perfectly maintained and steps were taken to ensure that such issues are not blown out of proportion and the alleged culprits were caught. If the issue turned out to be a communal riot, I would not have contested this election. This incident was well handled by coordinated effort. I don't think this incident will change voter’s perception about me by even 1 per cent.

Shetty: The recent murders in the constituency are sure to affect the Congress. BJP’s name was unnecessarily dragged and people know that. BJP has been in power in this constituency earlier and not one incident of communal violence happened. When the present government was in power a lot of incidents such as cattle thefts took place. These incidents easily get communal colour, spread hatred and the Congress is trying to use the same for its benefit.

Muneer: People are pained by the incident. Many youngsters in the region have destroyed their life by involving in communal incidents. People know who causes these incidents. There is no relief to the victims’ families. The incidents that rocked the region in the first week of January this year are sure to affect the Congress and BJP’s poll prospectus.

CD: Have you reached any pre-poll agreement with Janata Dal-Secular(JD-S) or Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI)?

Bava: We do not have any pre-poll agreement with the JD(S) or the SDPI. However, the members of the JD(S) and SDPI are openly praising the development I brought in the constituency in the last five years.

Shetty: We do not have a pre-poll alliance with anyone.

Muneer: We do not have any pre-poll alliance with anyone. We are directly approaching people.

CD: If you get elected, how do you see your constituency transforming in the next five years?

Bava: I have substantially improved connectivity in the regions by concretizing roads. People have already noted the positive impact the Congress party as a government has created, unlike the BJP which failed. If I get a chance to serve again, hospital, stadium, permanent market will be in our first phase of priorities.

Shetty: We plan to take up an integrated approach and implement planned development. Be it the failed Underground Drainage System or the lack of healthcare facilities that trouble the common man, we plan to solve them all and bring about a positive transformation.

Muneer: We aim to bring transparent governance, where we shall directly interact with the common man. By voting CPI (M), development the constituency lacked while BJP and Congress were in power will be brought about. Government medical college, government hospital, stopping the pollution in Phalguni River by the industries, creating jobs for the youth and other pro-people schemes are sure to transform the constituency.

CD: There are reports of dissidence within your party. Do you think it will have impact on the poll results?

Bava: There is no dissidence in Congress. In a matter of fact, Youth Congress leader Mithun Rai is campaigning for me and former MLA from the constituency Vijay Kumar Shetty is supporting me. Hence, I need not to worry about dissidence. 

Shetty: There were ticket aspirants in the BJP and it is natural to feel disappointed. However, there is no dissidence. Former MLA Krishna J Palemar and his people are supporting my candidature and are striving to get BJP into power in the constituency.

Muneer: There is no denying that there is a lot of in fight between Congress and the BJP. The party loyal workers are expressing their disappointment. People are observing the dissidence and they will opt for CPI (M).

CD: Any comments about Mangaluru City North being identified as ‘expenditure sensitive’?

Bava: It is good that Election Commission is taking stringent measures. However, I have nothing to worry as neither me nor my party workers are involving in illegal works and electoral malpractices. We are contesting election in a fair manner.

Shetty: The Election Commission has declared the constituency as ‘expenditure sensitive’ almost a month before BJP decided the candidate for the constituency. I am contesting for the first time. If such a declaration is made by the EC, it could be because of the influence of the sitting MLA.

Muneer: Till now Mangaluru City North was called as ‘communally sensitive’ and now it is called as ‘expenditure sensitive’. This is shameful for the people of the constituency and is evident that money plays a role in this constituency. We don’t have money and our only strength is people’s support. I am sure people want to wipe out the money politics to see true development.

Also Read: What are the plans of Lobo, Kamath, Prabhu for Mangaluru South? Read before you vote!

Comments

Waaw what a masterstroke question .... uneducated MLAs..... One question to you what about the prime minister... whos hand we have given to the whole country....... Answer Plzz....... hope you will not call me anti national because i have asked you question right

shahid
 - 
Tuesday, 1 May 2018

Dr. Bharat Shetty....... everbodys mind comes one question.... WHO IS HE?

CK Acharya
 - 
Tuesday, 1 May 2018

Muneer Katipalla is very shrewd. Instead of talking about dissidence in his party he is talking about dissidence in other parties. In fact CPI-M is a broken house in Dakshina Kannada. Senior leader BM Bhat and many others have been expelled by the party and they are campaigning against the left candidates in this poll. On the other hand Katipalla’s relationship with his own party leaders is not good. A few years ago Katipalla was a chaddi dost of a journalist from Mangalore who is now in Bangalore. Now the same friends have become enemies and they are pulling each others’ legs. Many CPI-M leaders are not happy with Katipalla for many other reasons too.

Well said… but please compare the answers of ur educated candidate with the other two uneducated. Bharat Shetty is speaking only jumlas like all BJP candidates do. The other two are speaking like thousand times more educated than him.
 

Good one. How can we trust this Bharat when none of his party leaders including PM Modi have fulfilled their promises so far?

Sharath Shetty
 - 
Tuesday, 1 May 2018

The only educated among these three is Dr Bharath Shetty. Other two did not even go to college. If people of Mangalore North want development they must elect vote for Dr Bharath Shetty. If people of Mangalore North are educated they must vote for Dr Bharath Shetty. We are fed up with uneducated MLAs. Let the educated people become our representatives now onwards.

Mohammed Kulai
 - 
Tuesday, 1 May 2018

Nice answers by Mohiuddin Bava. He has proved his efficiency. Winning a Hindu dominant constituency is not easy for a Muslim candidate. That proves his secular credentials. In fact he would have one in his first attempt in 2008 too. Less voter turnout that time helped his opponent Palemar. But after his election in 2013 he has proved his efficiency. In sha allah he will win again. He never indulged in communal politics. People of all communities will surely support him.

Voter
 - 
Tuesday, 1 May 2018

Dear Bharath Shetty, please give Rs 15 lakh and then speak of other things.

Pulchar Byari
 - 
Tuesday, 1 May 2018

Red color text for CPI-M candidate, Saffron colour text for BJP candidate, but why BSP colour for our Bavaka? Make it Kadakk pachhe.
 

Hamdan Aasif
 - 
Tuesday, 1 May 2018

Nice and timely interview. Very impartial. Very innovative method. Keep it up CD team
 

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News Network
January 8,2020

Bengaluru, Jan 8: Accusing the BJP of running a "fake news factory" at full potential, former chief minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said according to reports only Rs 669 crore of additional flood relief funds are being released by the Centre for the state as opposed to the ruling party's claim of Rs 1,869.85 crore.

Reacting to his attack, the State BJP unit, without clarifying on the actuals of the amount being released, said it believed in speaking the truth and not spreading lies.

Siddaramaiah, leader of the opposition in the state assembly, tweeted: "Reports from State govt officials tells that only Rs 669 crore of addl funds (sic) are released in 2nd instalment as opposed to the claim of Rs 1870 Cr by @BJP4Karnataka leaders. At a time when manufacturing industries are closing, BJP's fake news factory is running at full potential!!"

Calling BJP leaders "devotees of the God of lies," he said in another tweet that Prime Minister Narendra Modi released an additional Rs 669.85 crore moved by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa's plea, taking the total amount to Rs 1,869.85 crore. He said it was funny that they were attempting to depict the total relief amount as 1200+1869.85 equalling to Rs 3,069.85 crore.

Siddaramiahs tweet was in response to Karnataka BJPs tweet last night claiming that the High-Level Committee (HLC) Chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah has approved the release of Rs 1869.85 crore as central assistance to the state towards flood relief. This was in addition to Rs 1200 crore already released by the Centre in October 2019, the BJP unit had said.

On Monday, the HLC had approved additional central assistance to seven states affected by floods last year, from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), including Karnataka.

While a PIB release states that Rs 1869.85 crore was approved for Karnataka, according to sources in the state government the figure was inclusive of Rs 1,200 crore released in October. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa while expressing confidence that more funds will be released in later stages, maintained that Rs 1869 crore has been released in addition to Rs 1,200 crore earlier, and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"...funds will never be enough, they (central government) will release in stages, they have released such big amount- earlier Rs 1200 crore, now again Rs 1869 crore- I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for it," he told reporters here.

Revenue Minister R Ashoka said the state government will press for more funds in the days to come, and the state government will fulfil promises made to those hit by floods.

Karnataka faced two spells of unprecedented rains and floods last year, resulting in widespread damage to life and property, following which the state government had submitted a report to the centre claiming loss was to the tune of about Rs 38,000 crore.

Reacting to Siddaramaiah's attack of "fake news factory" against it, the state BJP tweeted "Ayyo @siddaramaiah Avare, We surrender to You as we are incapable of running Fake News Factory like You or @INCIndia.

We believe in speaking the Truth like Gandhiji, not spreading lies like Goebbels. Kannadigas still remember the "Lies Bhagya (a scheme)" you gave them as CM from 2013-18."

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News Network
April 3,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 3: Four people, including three who attended the Tablighi Jamat meet in Delhi, tested positive for coronavirus on Friday, taking the total number of the affected in the state to 128, the Health department said here.

The three men from Belagavi had attended the Tablighi- Jamaat congregation from March 13 to 18 at Delhi, while the other case was that of a 75-year-old man, who is a resident of Bagalkote.

A detailed investigation was underway to ascertain how he got infected, the department said in a bulletin.

It said that till date, 128 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, including three deaths and 11 discharges.

"With 128 cases we are in ninth position in the country in number of cases.Today four new cases were confirmed, of which three were those who attended Tablighi-Jamaat congregation," Primary and Secondary Education Minister Suresh Kumar told reporters, giving details about the bulletin.

He said 187 of the total of 288 samples collected from those who attended the congregation had tested negative and only 13 had turned positive so far.

"Out of 288 samples collected, we have got report for only 200 cases and are awaiting reports for 88," he added.

Though Kumar did not give any figures on the total number of people who went from Karnataka to attend theDelhi meet, the health department on Thursday had said nearly 1,000 people (including 19 foreigners) linked to Tablighi Jamat had been screened and swab samples of more than 200 people had been collected, while efforts are on to find out others.

Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Friday held a meeting with Muslim leaders and MLAs even as the government stepped up efforts to track those who might have travelled to the state after taking part in the meet in Delhi last month, which has turned out to be the hotbed of COVID-19 spread in the country.

After the meeting, the Chief Minister said Muslim MLAs agreed to provide details of those who attended the Jamaat's congregation to the government and also convince them to undergo COVID-19 tests, along with quarantining themselves.

Out of total of 114 active cases in the state so far, 111 patients (including 1 pregnant woman) are in isolation at designated hospitals and are stable, while three are in ICU (one on oxygen and two on Ventilators).

Seven of the 128 cases detected and confirmed were transit passengers of Kerala, who landed at airports in Karnataka and are being treated in the state.

Among the 128 positive cases, 51 were reported from Bengaluru, 21 from Mysuru, 10 from Bidar, nine from Dakshina Kannada, eight from Uttara Kannada, seven from Chikkaballapur, five from Kalaburgai, four from Ballari, three each from Davangere, Belagavi and Udupi, and one each from Kodagu, Tumakuru, Bagalkote and Dharwad.

Those discharged include nine patients from Bengaluru and two from Kalaburagi and among the deceased are one each are reported from Kalaburgari, Bengaluru and Tumakuru.

The Chief Minister held a series of meetings to review the measures taken to control the spread of COVID-19 and implementation of lockdown in the state.

He asked the labour department to deposit an additional Rs 1,000 from the Construction Workers Welfare Fund to the accounts of 15 lakh labourers in the sector.

The government has already deposited Rs 1000 to their accounts (amounting about Rs 150 crore) in the first round.

During the meeting the shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Kits for Doctors and health care professionals was discussed.

"Work order has been issued for 1 lakh PPE kits, and the Chief Minister has issued directions for the supply of 2 lakh more PPE kits," Kumar said.

Yediyurappa also chaired a meeting with Ministers from Bengaluru on steps to be taken to control spread of COVID-19, as the city has more than half the confirmed cases in the state.

He also decided to covene a meeting of city legislators in this regard on Saturday morning.

Kumar said it was also decided not to provide food free of cost at the state run Indira Canteens as concerns were raised about the quality and misuse that was happening during the Chief Minister's meeting with ministers today.

"We have decided to stop free food supply...we are providing foodgrains to poor through ration already," he said.

However, the Canteens will continue to provide subsidized food- breakfast at Rs 5 and lunch and dinner at Rs 10.

The government last month had decided that Indira Canteens would provide food packets free of cost to the poor and needy in the wake of the lockdown.

Meanwhile, in view of COVID-19, emergency Additional Chief Secretary, H&FW Department ordered extension ofservices of Medical and Para-medical staff, Clinical and Nonclinical staff retiring in April and May this year, to June 30.

Amid reports of lack of co-ordination between Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar and Health and Family Welfare Minister B Sriramulu, Chief Minister Yediyurappa has tasked Suresh Kumar to brief the media on COVID-19 related daily bulletins, official sources said.

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coastaldigest.com web desk
July 15,2020

Mangaluru, July 15: Moulana Iqbal Mulla Nadvi, an acclaimed Islamic scholar and Qadhi (Khazi) of Bhatkal, passed away at a private hospital in Mangaluru. 

The elderly scholar was critically for past few weeks. 

He had served as the president of Jamia Islamia Bhatkal for several years.

He was known among Islamic scholars of Karnataka for his boldness, sincerity and wisdom.

Last rites are expected to be held in Bhatkal.

More details are awatied. 

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