Udupi: District in-charge Minister Pramodh Madhwaraj has thrown an open challenge to former MLA Raghupathy Bhat to release documents that could prove the corruption charges against him.
Addressing a news conference on Thursday, Madhwaraj said that there are agencies like ACB, Lokayukta and the likes where Bhat could release those documents.
“If the BJP has courage to file case against me it can do so. However, what moral right does Raghupathy Bhat have to talk about me when he was denied party ticket during last election due to one major incident of his personal life,” questioned Madhwaraj adding that people will not fall for allegations made by Bhat and that he would be gauged for the work that he has done in his constituency.
“Major media houses of the state have said that I am first among the 224 MLAs in the state when it comes to developing constituency. Raghupathy Bhat former MLA has made various allegations against me and said that no developmental works have been done in Udupi Constituency during my five year tenure. I fulfilled almost all promises of vision 2025 and pending ones will be done in coming years,” he said adding that in 2013, when the UPA was in power at the Center, there were hopes that funds would come to the constituency. However, that did not happen due to change of power at the centre. “Hence some of the promises which I made then were delayed due to non cooperation from the Center government. Completion of 500 bed hospital was far from being achieved due to indifferent attitude of the centre,” he said.
Counting some of the works done during his tenure, Madhwaraj said that district hospital witnessed maximum development works over the last four years. Udupi District Ayush Hospital – Rs 132.66 lakh, Rs. 30 lakhs for Canteen facility, K.M.G. Nandini Milk Centre and Hopcomssales market (Civic Amenities), Rs 15 lakhs for TB Ward Renovation and other projects, Rs 85 lakh for crematorium, Rs. 36.32 lakh for water and sanitary system as well as building repairs, construction of guest house for doctors, nurses and D group employees have been done and Rs. 1354.62 lakh have been spent for Hospitals in Udupi Legislative Constituency.
“When the 70 bedded women and child hospital was not sufficient, I brought the issue to the notice of the CM and health Minister. However, around the same time NRI businessman Dr B R Shetty was wanting to construct a hospital in name of his parents. Soon, we collaborated with Dr Shetty and developed Koosamma Shambu Shetty Memorial Haji Abdulla Maternity and Children’s Hospital in Udupi. It is the first hi-tech government hospital of the country that is also providing free treatment to patients,” he said.
About delay in four-laning works, the Minister said that project was hard hit by change in land acquisition laws.
“The first phase four lane road construction of Udupi – Ambagilu –Manipal route is in process at the estimated cost of Rs. 5 crore. In front of Raghupathy’s five star hotel Country Inn the four lane is
constructed. Perhaps, Bhat is blind to see the same. Moreover, four laning Parkala – Manipal – Malpe road is yet to begin. By and large the project failed due to passive NDA rule and MP Shobh Karandlaje,”
he said.
Udupi district Congress Committee Janardhan Thonse, CMC President Meenakshi Madhave Bannanje, Block Congress President Sathish Amin Padukere, Narasimha Moorthy, Janardhan Bhandarkar and other were present during the press meet.
