Mangalore : MLA B A Mohiuddin Bava has appealed to the people of his constituency to maintain peace and harmony.

Speaking in a press conference here on Thursday, he said that the Chief Minister and Home Minister have directed the deputy commissioner, the superintendent of police and the city police commissioner in the district to focus on maintaining communal harmony in the light of communal flare-ups in a few areas in his constituency.

“The conspiracy of anti-social elements to disrupt harmony in the region will not be successful,” he said and appealed to various religious and community leaders not to heed rumours and to maintain communal harmony.

To maintain law and order in the trouble-hit areas, Chief Minister has directed the authorities to send 15 platoons of police force. The Home department is also planning to write to the Centre urging to sanction a Rapid Action Force to the district. “Small incidents should also be collectively avoided. The police have been directed to take strict action against persons spreading rumours of any sort” he said.

The MLA warned that trouble-mongers would be strictly dealt with. “We will not spare anyone who tries to disrupt law and order. It is the responsibility of all the citizens to maintain law and order in the district. The untoward incidents are a black mark on the overall development of the region,” he added.

“There is a conspiracy to project me as a leader of a particular community. I have been working for the integrated development of my constituency. In the last one and half years, road works worth Rs three crore has been initiated in Ulaibettu and Edapadavu region,” the MLA added.

Bava said that he has discussed the issue of closure of MCF with the Chief Minister at the Congress Legislative Party meeting. The Chief Minister said that Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananth Kumar has promised to reopen the unit within 15 days. The State government is also committed to safeguard the interest of the KIOCL.

On the proposed Kulai fisheries jetty, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will meet Union Minister for Agriculture Radha Mohan Singh to impress upon the Centre to give its nod to start the work on 50:50 cost sharing.

“I have also discussed the issue of 20 per cent HRA for the State government employees working in the district. The CM has replied positively for the issue,” he said.