Repatriation of Kannadigas outside India, Karnataka in a phased manner: BJP

MANGALURU: Repatriation of stranded Kannadigas in other states in general and Gulf nations is becoming reason for political tussle between ruling BJP and opposition Congress, especially in Dakshina Kannada district, the home district of DK MP chief Nalin Kumar Kateel. With Congress leadership firing salvos at Nalin, Sudarshan M, president of district unit of BJP rushed to the defence of his state BJP boss here on Tuesday.
Sudarshan said the entire district administration is working as a team under the leadership of Nalin and district minister Kota Shrinivas Poojary and all seven BJP MLAs. The party without bias has also reached out to needs of people of Mangaluru assembly constituency represented by former minister and incumbent MLA U T Khader, Sudarshan said, adding party’s relief efforts has reached out to vast marginalised and weaker sections of society.
On the specific charge of not catering to interests of Kannadigas stranded in the Middle East and in Maharashtra by way of arranging special flights or trains, Sudarshan said this is part of a well thought out move to bring them in batches. District has created healthcare and quarantine facilities for a limited number, be it at Covid19 hospital or institutional quarantine and bringing them altogether will create problems for their equitable settlement, he said.
Dismissing allegations made by Congress leaders, including former ministers Ramanath Rai, Khader, MLC Ivan D’Souza, Sudarshan said one cannot expect these leaders to understand the farsightedness shown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in rolling out the economic revival package. The focus during this time when the whole world is bogged down by the pandemic should be for all to collectively work to ameliorate sufferings of the people, he said.