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Tech minister threatens protest outside Jagdish Shettar’s residence

Anand Vasant Asnotikar on Friday threatened that he would stage a protest in front of chief minister Jagadish Shettar’s residence if he does not sanction a medical college in Karwar.

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Science and technology minister Anand Vasant Asnotikar on Friday threatened that he would stage a protest in front of chief minister Jagadish Shettar’s residence if he does not sanction a medical college in Karwar.

Speaking to reporters, Asnotikar said if his demand is not fulfilled he will not hesitate to protest. “I will continue in the cabinet and continue the struggle for the medical college in Karwar,” he said.

“Already 23 acres of land is available for setting up the medical college. A 400-bed hospital is also located close by. There is no hitch to start the medical college,” he said.

“I took up the issue when cabinet meeting was conveyed in Gulbarga. The chief minister said since the issue was not on the agenda for discussion, he would take it up in the next cabinet meeting. I dropped my decision to boycott the cabinet meeting, pinning hopes on the chief minister’s assurance,” Asnotikar said. The minister said he had not given divisive statements regarding merging of the Karwar region with the state of Goa. “It has been the feeling of the people that the region is heavily dependent on Goa for medical and other facilities and it is better to join that state. I have never issued such a statement,” Asnotikar clarified.

“I can never dream of demanding for a merger as both my parents have served as elected representatives from Karwar,” said Asnotikar. He said his statement has been distorted and the issue is politically exploited. The issue came up during a meeting of all party leaders and people of his constituency. People argued that if Karnataka has failed to provide basic facilities, it is better to go with Goa. “However, I managed to console them by promising that I will fight as a minister and get the medical college for Karwar,” he said.

Asnotikar said slammed primary and secondary education minister Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri for giving a political turn to the issue and appealed to him not to bring in politics in the issue. “People of Karwar don’t want a Vidhana Soudha costing Rs550 crore. Uttara Kannada district needs basic amenities.

Having a medical college is essential as hundreds of people from Karwar go to Goa for treatment. The district where the largest Naval base (Seabird Naval project ) and Kaiga Nuclear Power plant are situated, has a huge project displaced population. But it has no medical college,” he said.

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