Mangaluru, (The HIndu): Former Minister B. Ramanath Rai on Monday accused Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel of taking credit for works done by others and chided him saying he has not seen another MP “as lazy as Mr. Kateel”.

“He becomes active only when elections approach,” Mr. Rai, apparently annoyed by Mr. Kateel’s recent charge of Moolara Patna Bridge becoming the first casualty of sand mafia, told reporters here.

Unregulated sand extraction has been going on for the last 15 years in the district and not just during the previous regime, Mr. Rai said, responding to the MP’s charge that the mafia had been thriving during the previous Congress regime.

Mr. Rai said though many developmental works were executed during the Congress regime, Mr. Kateel was attempting to portray that no development took place.

Responding to the allegation of the MP that four-laning of Mangaluru-Karkala NH 169 was delayed because of him and two Congress MLAs, Mr. Rai said he had ensured that land acquisition was complete when he was the Minister. Mr. Kateel did not attend even one of the three meetings in that regard, he held.

Other works

The Congress leader listed out many other works carried out during the Congress administration, including concreting of the Shiradi Ghat road, commencing work of district office at Padil, Mangaluru International Airport exit road and many more to contest Mr. Kateel’s charges that no development took place earlier.

Mangaluru Mayor Bhaskar K. and others were present.