BJP MP Pratap Simha’s ‘list of achievements’ in Mysuru Lok Sabha constituency in the last five years drew criticism from Congress leaders, who accused him of claiming credit for others’ contribution.
At a press conference convened by Congress and JD(S) leaders here, former Minister H.C. Mahadevappa listed out the developmental works taken up by the Congress including the upgrading and widening of Mysuru-Bengaluru highway and road works taken up under the Central Road Funds (CRF) under the previous Congress regime in the State and during the tenure of UPA II.
The Mysuru-Bengaluru highway was upgraded to a national highway during Oscar Fernandes’ tenure as Union Minister for Surface Transport. Efforts to widen it began under the previous Congress regime in the State. Similarly, he said the credit for upgrading of Bidar-Chamarajanagar highway should go to the Congress government.
Referring to Mr. Simha’s claims that road works in Karnataka were executed from the CRF, which came from the Centre, Mr. Mahadevappa said the CRF was Karnataka’s right as it was part of the cess imposed on fuel consumption by the State. “Nobody can deny that right,” he said.
C.H. Vijayshankar, former MP and Congress candidate, described Mr. Simha as the ‘most irresponsible’ MP, who made no effort to come to the aid of pepper farmers in Kodagu. Despite being a member of the Spices Board of India, Mr. Simha did little to stop the import of cheap pepper from Vietnam. JD(S) leader A.H. Vishwanath said the biggest importer of pepper was “a friend of PM Modi”. Mr. Vijayshankar said the Centre had also discontinued input subsidies provided to coffee planters. While planters owning more than 20 acres receive no input subsidies, even planters with less than 20 acres are receiving far lesser subsidies.
He said work on the first phase of Mysuru airport was executed when he was MP. There had been no progress during Mr. Simha’s tenure, he alleged. Also, the second entrance to the Mysuru City Railway station and additional platforms were developed under the UPA regime, he added.
With regard to woes of tobacco farmers, Mr. Vijayshankar said the number of tobacco farmers without permits were more than those with permits when he was the MP.