Mangaluru: Addressing the press, Congress district spokesperson and former city mayor Mahabala Marla accused MP Nalin Kumar Kateel of indulging in spreading false propaganda in order to harm Mangaluru South MLA J R Lobo’s reputation on Friday, March 4.

“Nalin has been making hollow claims without providing documentary proof,” he said.

“Nalin has proclaimed himself as top MP. We want to know whether he is No. 1 in achieving any development or in telling lies. Spending MP local area development fund is not a great thing. We want to know what he has done additionally to achieve development,” he stated.

Marla list of accusations run long. He said it was because of Kateel that the over-bridge work at Pumpwell has become slow, that Nalin did not take any interest on the demand for over-bridge at Nanthoor and KPT Circle and that he concealed 50 percent contribution made by the state in the Rs 215 crore grant towards smart city project and claimed that the entire money was released by the centre.

“He failed to get any amount released towards the extension of runway at the airport here. He has also not been able to bring grants for development of fishing jetty at Kulai, which has been pending since long. Although fund was released for creating alternative tunnel route at Shiradi Ghat to ease traffic congestion, he did not do anything to take the project forward. Because of lack of foresight on the part of Nalin, the city has lost MSEZ second phase programme,” he said.

Nalin has Marla demanded a list of contributions made by Nalin towards the development of the city since he always claims that he’s the No. 1 MP. “He is skilled in doing politics in the name of caste, religion and cows and his contribution to the development is nil,” he concluded.