Hassan: Janata Dal (Secular) MLC Suraj Revanna has chided Member of Parliament from Hassan, Shreyas Patel, for being what he believes is “delusional”.
“Shreyas Patel has been an MP for only six months now and I think he is already delusional. He is speaking against me due to lack of information about various issues,” he said.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, he responded to Shreyas Patel’s jibe as to how many gram panchayats Suraj had visited and what work he had done in the three years since he has been an MLC.
He said the work he has done is amazing. He said he has not given grants only to Holenarasipur assembly constituency, but to the entire district.
“In three years, I have given Rs 50 crore in grants and more than a 1,000 villages have benefited. I have visited 1,000 villages in the district and laid the foundation stones for many a development works,” he said.
He questioned Shreyas’ welfare work and attacked “those who became MPs” by sharing “pen drives” with Central Ministers, thereby appearing helpless and incapable of getting things done on the ground.
“Shreyas has appealed to the Union Forest Minister to solve the wild elephant problem in the district. The state government has its own railway barricades. Why should he go to the Central government for a solution? His government is in power in the state. First, we need information about how many railway barricades there are in place,” Suraj quipped.
“Go to the villages and you will know what your family’s contribution is versus what our contribution is. Kumaraswamy waived off farm loans when he was Chief Minister. He also began irrigation projects, health centers, medical colleges, and roads which will benefit farmers forever. Our father taught us how to work. He did not teach us how to do publicity with a microphone. I challenge the MP to hold press meets once a week and give us updates on what is being done on the ground. His current method only seems to seek publicity,” Suraj alleged.
“Letterhead scam”
Suraj also alleged that the Hassan MP’s office is misusing its letterhead in return for pecuniary benefit.
“They are giving a lot of trouble to the officials. The power of the letterhead is being invoked to facilitate transfers. Money is being collected in lakhs of rupees in return for letterhead-stamped recommendations. Show me one case in which I have given a letter of transfer,” Suraj challenged.
“If an IIT is to be established in the state now, only HD Deve Gowda can pull it off. The current MP’s efforts seem unintelligent. He should know that only if the PMO orders an IIT, can it come up in any part of the country. The Hassan MP should know the basics of governance and politics,” Suraj remarked.
