Mangaluru: Newly appointed Urban Development minister UT Khader appealed to the people to approach the Congress party offices if the elected representatives discriminate in the development.
Speaking to the media at the DCC office here on June 9, the Minister made the comments in reply to the controversial remarks made by BJP MLA from Vijayapura Basanagouda Patil Yatnal to the BJP councillors. The State Minister for Urban Development and Housing, UT Khadar said, “If any elected representatives insults, discriminates or fails to work for people, approach the Congress office and get your work done.”
UT Khader condemned the “unconstitutional and uncivilized” statement of Yatnal urging the councilors not to do any work for Muslims in their respective wards. “A people’s representative takes the oath to serve everyone equally without any discriminations,” Khader said.
Khader revealed some initiatives of the new coalition government. He announced that the government is planning to increase the annual income criteria for the poor so that more deserving people could access the benefits of housing schemes.
Khader also promised to hold a meeting of the MLAs, engineers, Mangalore Mayor and former Mayors to initiate coordinated development of Mangaluru city. A clear picture of all the development works in the state would emerge only after the meeting with the senior officers of Urban Development and Housing department to be held on Monday, June 11, he added.
Earlier in the day, UT Khader received a rousing welcome from Congress members and his fans as he arrived in the city after being made a minister. A huge crowd had gathered at the airport to welcome the only MLA from the district to have found a seat in the cabinet in the Congress-JD(S) coalition government.
Addressing the party workers before the press meet, Khader appealed the party workers to strengthen the party’s presence in the district as per the suggestions and guidance from the senior leader such as Oscar Fernandes, Veerappa Moily, and Janardhana Poojary. “We should strengthen the party for upcoming elections in undivided Dakshina Kannada under the leadership of B Ramanath Rai,” he said.
