Mangaluru, Jun 12: Taking on his political rivals who accused him of misusing his powers by distributing notebooks with his picture to students in his constituency, Mangaluru North MLA Mohiuddin Bava has said that he would continue the tradition of free distribution from his personal money next year too.
In a complaint to Legislative Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad, BJP Mangaluru North Block president Bharath Shetty had alleged that Bava has misused his powers to gain political mileage by distributing books with his picture to students free. Countering Shetty's allegations, Bava said that he has never misused powers as a MLA, whereas the entire expenses for the books were borne completely by him.
"I have distributed 3.08 lakh books to students from class 1 to PU in my constituency by spending Rs 52.36 lakh. However, I have not availed funds from the government to distribute books. I had taken a decision to distribute books to all students in my constituency on my birthday on March 15. It is only a part of my love for children and there is no need to look at it as a political move since children does not have voting power. I have been engaged in several activities for children in the past 15 years and has contributed for children's cause on several earlier occasions," Bava said adding that he will distribute 6 lakh books with his picture in the next academic year.
On the logic for printing his picture on the notebooks, Bava said that there is no hidden agenda behind it. "I have printed my picture notebooks only for children's knowledge. Let them know who their MLA is," he said.
Further, Bava pointed out that he is not the first MLA to distribute free books with pictures to students in the state. "BJP MLA Y A Narayanaswamy has distributed books with his picture as well as his party' symbol (lotus) in his Hebbal constituency. However, I have not printed my party symbol (hand) on the notebooks," Bava said adding that no rules prevent MLAs from printing their pictures on notebooks while donating it among students. He said, next year children will also be given free umbrellas along with 6 lakh books.
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