more-in While admitting to the failure of the State government in curbing sale of cannabis in Dakshina Kannada, Minister in-charge of the district B. Ramanath Rai on Monday took Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP, to task for the latter’s criticism on the issue that has been a concern of the district for over a decade. “We did fail in curbing it during our tenure. But this has been an issue even when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was ruling the State,” Mr. Rai told reporters here. Mr. Rai said that sale of cannabis has been a concern for over a decade. On the statement of Mr. Kateel daring the government to take effective steps against those involved in cannabis sale, Mr. Rai said, “This looks as though Mr. Kateel’s supporters are in the cannabis business.” The Minister said that the BJP was taking up lame issues to show the ruling party in bad light. The issue of cannabis has to be tackled by all parties. It was sad that the BJP was using this to criticise the State government. The cancellation of the meeting of BJP National President Amit Shah in Mangaluru on October 4 was a reflection of the party losing its base in the State. Asked why there was an angry outburst from residents of Mukkacherry on October 6 when Food and Civil Supplies Minister U.T. Khader went to meet the family members of Zubair, who was allegedly murdered on October 4, Mr. Rai said that it was a natural reaction of those who had lost their dear ones. This reaction cannot be a reflection of the State’s inaction, he said. Mr. Rai said that Mr. Kateel does not have any right to comment against the State government when he does not have any single notable work to show in the region. “People know about his work and they will show him his place in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections,” he said. On Union Human Resource Minister Prakash Javadekar’s comment that the BJP should take up a campaign to fill potholes in the State, Mr. Rai said that the roads maintained by the State were in good shape. It is those roads maintained by the National Highway Authority of India that were in bad shape and the Union government has to take the blame.

Stay updated with all the Latest Mangalore headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.