Udupi: UPA failed to curb crimes against women, time for change; Shobha

By Anil Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 15 Mar 2014: Shobha Karandlaje, Karnataka state former minister and now BJP Lok Sabha candidate contesting in Udupi - Chikmagalur constituency here on Friday March 14 said that UPA-led union government has failed utterly in-efficient governance and stressed that change is inevitable.

 

Addressing the media persons during a press meet held at BJP office here, Shobha said that the union government had failed to enhance coastal security.  The fisheries community and areca planters are worst hit.  ‘Tribals who lived in deep forests since several centuries were evicted and there is no effective law in in place to stop their eviction or rehabilitate them,’ said Shobha.

 

‘The government has failed to curb crimes against women, and there is effective law in place to deter or punish perpetrators of such crimes. Even though, a few steps were taken in this regard, the government could not enforce a proper law to ensure that culprits are punished without delay. If BJP wins, we will set up fast-track courts and make sure that crimes against women are dealt strictly and severe punishment will be awarded to culprits, such that men will not harass women anymore,’ said Shobha.

 

‘BJP has given opportunities to women in politics. I have done my best to fulfill each responsibility that I was given under the BJP government. Be it as minister for energy, minister for rural development or for women and child welfare, I was able to serve in these capacities for a certain period and worked to the satisfaction of people. In future too, I will do my best to fulfill the responsibilities that I will be given,’ said Shobha.

 

‘There are more number of women in Udupi – Chikmagalur LS constituency that is significant. When Indira Gandhi was facing problems, she contested from here and won. At that time, it was her personal trouble, but now the entire country is in trouble.

 

‘There has been infiltration from across our borders, there is no security even for leaders, or protection for our dams, factories or power plants. Development has crippled under the Congress rule. PM Manmohan Singh has not done anything to boost development; instead under his reign corruption has increased. Coal and fuel are allotted to private companies at throwaway prices which resulted in huge losses. Corruption is everywhere, whether in allocation of 2G spectrum, in Commonwealth Games or other scams,’ said Shobha.

 

 

On a query from a media person - why she decided to contest the Lok Sabha election, Shobha said, ‘The former CM B S Yeddyurappa and I did not think of contesting the general elections earlier, but when Narendra Modi was chosen as the PM candidate by the BJP, our expectations rose considering the development work he has done, and hence we decided to contest to make Modi win,’ said Shobha.

 

Lambasting the Congress-led state government, Shobha alleged that several schemes like Bhagyalaksmi and others initiated by Yeddyurapp during his reign as CM were being steadily stopped by the present government. ‘Development in the state has come to a standstill under the Congress rule,’ said Shobha.

 

When reporters queried why the BJP had decided to give her the ticket to contest in Udupi - Chikmagalur when there were other aspirants too, Shobha said, ‘I had asked for ticket from Bangalore North. Sadananda Gowda and R Ashok were the top contenders there and I was the third contender, but I did not mean to get ahead of them. It is natural to have many aspirants for tickets, and I was just one of them. The senior leaders of the party considered my performance as a minister earlier and gave me this ticket,’ said Shobha.

 

Lashing out at her opponent from Congress  candidate Jayaprakash Hegde, Shobha said, ‘The MP of this constituency did not show any concern towards the welfare of fishermen and areca growers during his term of 2 years. The administration under Congress has completely failed. They could not solve the problems of people here. If BJP comes to power, we will try to resolve the issues bothering the people here,’ said Shobha.

 

On whether Dhananjay Kumar would re-enter the BJP, Shobha said, ‘BJP is trying to bring him back into the party’s fold. He is former member and was MP four times and central minister too. Talks are under way to re-induct him in the BJP,’ said Shobha.

 

BJP Udupi district president Tingale Vikramarjuna Hegde, former MLAs Raghupati Bhat and Lalaji R Mendon, Udaykumar Shetty and others were present.