Dinesh Gundu Rao Slams NMPA for Not Inviting Him to Jubilee Event
He stated that irrespective of the discourtesy shown to the state government, he hoped the port and the Authority prosper and serve the nation for centuries to come
Mangaluru: Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister and Dakshina Kannada District In-charge Minister Dinesh Gundurao has taken strong exception to not inviting him to New Mangalore Port’s Golden Jubilee celebrations scheduled on November 13 at Dr BR Ambedkar Stadium in Panambur.
In a sharply worded letter addressed to Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, Gundurao said that while he was proud of the Port’s achievements, it was “very regretfully noticed that the Authority (New Mangalore Port Authority has chosen to not invite the district in-charge minister of the state government to the program.”
Rao has also written about this to NMPA Chairman Dr Venkata Ramana Akkaraju, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways secretary Vijay Kumar, DoPT secretary and the Chief Secretary of Karnataka.
“While breach of protocol can sometimes be attributed to ignorance, in this case it seems deliberate,” Dinesh Gundurao stated, alleging that the Authority “has not forgotten to invite all possible past and present representatives connected to the Bharatiya Janata Party of Mangaluru.”
“We should be thankful that the Authority stopped short of inviting the heads of right-wing fringe groups in the district as well. While there is no doubt the service New Mangalore Port has rendered to the nation in the last 5 decades and needs to be congratulated, the present management also needs to be commended for taking it to the next level in serving its political masters in every way possible and I have to congratulate you for guiding them to their true calling. Sir, your talent and effort in finding the most suitable officers to take your political cause further is exemplary,” he quipped.
He stated that irrespective of the discourtesy shown to the state government, he hoped the port and the Authority prosper and serve the nation for centuries to come.
“We congratulate the Authority and Government of India and you on this occasion and hope that in future irrespective of whoever is in power at the state and central governments the ministry and Mangaluru port chooses to observe protocol so that the Port will continue to reflect the values of "The Maritime Gateway of Karnataka" rather than "The Maritime Gateway of BJP," he added.
In the letter written to the state Chief Secretary and DoPT Secretary, Dinesh Gundurao has sought action against Vijay Kumar for the ‘discourtesy shown to the state government,’ and ‘breach of protocol.’
