Mangaluru: With the CPI(M) and BJP leader crying foul over the Ashraya scheme – aimed at providing shelter to the homeless at the G+3 apartment to be built in Shaktinagar, MLA JR Lobo called a press meet to clarify his stance.

Refuting allegations that the scheme is an eye-washer and was aimed at misleading the people, Lobo on Sunday asserted that the work on the project will begin soon after the elections and will be completed with 18 months.

Speaking at the press meet held in district Congress office, JR Lobo said, “A senior BJP corporator Premananda Shetty has alleged that I have misled people by making false assurance of providing shelter to the homeless through the Ashraya scheme. The statement given by the BJP leader is far from the truth. The Karnataka government had sanctioned this project on 10 March 2017. Financial closure for the project has been done and tenders invited. All corporators including BJP, JD(S) and communist gave the list of homeless people in their respective wards and the beneficiaries were selected through lottery draw. The whole process has been transparent. Sanction letters duly signed by Mangaluru City Corporation Commissioner have been handed over to the beneficiaries.”

Further he added that the construction process has been delayed owing to the election model code of conduct. He also slammed BJP leader Premananda Shetty and CPI(M) leader Sunil Kumar Bajal, stating that the BJP never did this work and CPI(M) never dreamt of constructing G+3 apartments.