Mangaluru: Even though MP Nalin Kumar Kateel claimed that the flyover at Pumpwell circle would be completed and inaugurated on January 1, MLC Ivan D’Souza said that the construction work of the flyover is still pending and that it should not be inaugurated hastily.
Addressing the media here on Monday, December 16, Ivan said that if the flyover is inaugurated only for the sake of fulfilling the promise, it would lead to accidents and other untoward incidents. “If Nalin Kumar Kateel wants to keep his promise, he should take appropriate measures to ensure that no work is pending before the inauguration. It is very difficult to complete the flyover before January 1, as only a few people are currently engaged in the construction work,” he said.
Asking Nalin to visit the flyover construction site, Ivan said that, based on the current status of the work, at least four to five months is needed to complete the flyover. “The retaining wall of the flyover and other important works are still pending and it is very difficult to complete the work by January 1. The Congress will constitute a fact-finding committee soon, in order to check the status of the work and to find the real reason for the delay of the flyover construction,” he added.
CAB targeting Muslim community
Commenting on the protests across the country over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, Ivan said that the PM Modi-led Union Government is dividing the country on the basis of religion. “I am not against the Citizenship Act. However, the Central Government is targeting the Muslim community under the pretext of bringing an amendment to the Act. Even the United Nations Organisation (UNO) and former Lokayukta Justice Santhosh Hegde have opined that this Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is discriminatory and violates the constitutional values. Then why is the Union Government is keen on implementing this Act?” he questioned.
