Mangaluru : Former MLA J R Lobo has challenged Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel to face a test of truth.

Kateel had accused Lobo of changing design for the flyover at Mahaveera Circle (Pumpwell) and causing hindrance in land acquisition.

Coming down heavily on Kateel for accusing him and District In-charge Minister U T Khader for delaying work on the Thokkottu and Pumpwell flyovers as a part of the four-laning of the National Highway 66, Lobo said on Tuesday,

“I am ready to swear before the God whom I believe that the allegations are baseless.”

He said that the BJP is engaged in spreading lies. The delay in completion of the flyovers shows the MP’s failure to get the works done in 10 years. “Don’t try to pull our legs for your failure,” he warned Kateel. Lobo declared that the MP had not contributed anything to Dakshina Kannada district in the last 10 years.

“Let alone new projects, Kateel has failed to complete the pending projects. Keeping in mind the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the MP is trying to sow seeds of hatred among the people. The MP who is well-versed in setting fire is attempting to divide the society on the basis of caste and religion,” the former MLA charged.

“If Khader and I were responsible for the change in the design and posed a hurdle for the flyover work, was Kateel not aware of it all these years? As MP, how many times did he convene a meeting of NHAI officials along with MLAs to review the flyover work in the last 10 years?” Lobo asked.

Responding to allegations that Khader was claiming credit for Centre-sponsored projects, Lobo said, “It was I who sanctioned the road from Kulashekar to Kannagudde after holding talks with the Railway Board. The MP had delayed the work by one and a half years. When the work has been completed, it was the BJP MLA who is taking credit for it.”

He also said that in the past 10 years, Kateel had failed to complete the flyovers, take up widening of the NH 169 from Kulashekar to Moodbidri or initiate the tunnel project at Shiradi Ghat. “It was the BJP that was responsible for dropping of the Phase 2 of the SEZ. The MP had not taken any initiative to save Vijaya Bank from being merged with Bank of Baroda and Dena Bank,” he alleged.