It is unfortunate that only the lies uttered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP leaders are being highlighted in the media, while the good work done by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah are ignored, district in-charge Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi said in Belagavi on Tuesday.
“Media houses need to engage in serious introspection,” he told presspersons after hoisting the national flag.
He said that false promises, fake achievements and hate speech by BJP leaders filled the pages of newspapers and TV screens, while good news, including the achievements of States like Karnataka was sidelined.
Mr. Siddaramaiah is leading a battle to end hunger and is taking up several welfare programmes. The media, sadly, is not showcasing such positive steps to the world, he said.
He asked officials to remove encroachments in the city, without fear or favour.
Earlier, the Minister recalled the sacrifice of freedom fighters Kittur Channamma and Sangolli Rayanna and the contribution of Gandhian Gangadhar Rao Deshpande, credited with introducing Khadi and village industries in the district.
He said that sowing in four of the 10 taluks was affected due to rainfall scarcity. He hoped it would rain in the coming months and farming activities would pick up.
Belagavi, which is home to the Hudli Khadi Gramodyoga Sangha that Gandhiji visited, will get its own Khadi Plaza, with central assistance. The process to acquire 848 acres of industrial area in Kanagala village is almost completed. A new textile park with 217 sites on 75 acres will come up in Borgaon in Chikkodi taluk.
A government tool room and training centre sub centre will be started in Chikkodi. Training will start from this year, he said.
The main attraction of the day was the march past by CRPF Cobra Commandos. Other units included ITBP, KSRP, District Armed Reserve, NCC, Home Guards, Scouts and Guides, Seva Dal and the inmates of the Maheshwari School for the Blind. Freedom fighters Somalingappa Mulagavi of Hudli, Gangappa Malagi, Pavadappa Golbavi, Gangadhar Kamat, all from Belagavi, were felicitated.
Mr. Jarkiholi handed over laptops to meritorious students Snehal Kanabaragi, Pooja Abbar, Sneha Ambadgatti and Chandan Malagoudar.
Deputy Commissioner S. Jiaullah, commissioner T.G. Krishna Bhat, Superintendent of Police Ravikante Gowda, MPs, MLAs, MLCs and others were present.