The BJP government has not realised the potential of Mangalore city; if voted to power, we will develop Mangalore as the second biggest city in the State, said president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee G. Parmeshwar in Mangalore on Saturday.
Addressing party workers at Nehru Maidan, where UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi also delivered her speech, Mr. Parmeshwar hit out at the BJP government for having stalled the progress of the State. “In 2008, there was a hung Assembly and the BJP formed the government. People gave them a chance. But, in the past five years, what have they done?” he said.
Ms. Gandhi, whose salutation to the crowd in Kannada was met with raucous cheers, said the region had given birth to religious leaders, social reformers and philosophers. “This is a region that represents unity in diversity. There are beautiful old temples, churches, churches, and everybody has lived throughout in harmony, as is the secular ethos of the Congress Party,” she said, adding that people claiming to be “moral guardians” have started destroying the harmony of the region. Urging for a change in governance, she gave an assurance to those gathered that if elected to power, the Congress will continue to ensure development here. Her other regional focus was to meet the needs of the fishing community – such as cold storages.
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While around 4,000 workers showed up, all Congress MLAs, MPs, MLCs in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi turned up to usher in the UPA chairperson.
Tight security was maintained, with every worker entering the pandal being checked, while the road to the ground was blocked for most part.