Mangaluru
KPCC Working President and MLC Manjunath Bhandary has stressed the need to amend the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act to impose harsher penalties on drug peddlers. He aims to discourage repeat offenses and plans to raise this issue during the upcoming winter session of the legislature.
Bhandary, addressing the media, shared his concerns about the rising incidents of drug abuse and trafficking in the coastal region. Following a letter to Home Minister G. Parameshwara, he discussed the issue with senior police officials. He noted that while police arrests occur, many offenders quickly secure bail and return to their illicit activities. To combat this, he advocates for amendments to ensure stricter bail conditions for drug offenders.
Highlighting the detrimental impact of the drug trade on the coastal economy, Bhandary pointed out that parents from other parts of the state are hesitant to enroll their children in local colleges, tarnishing the region’s reputation as an educational hub.
Additionally, he welcomed the state government’s announcement of seven new public schools in Karnataka, insisting that one should be established in the coastal area. Responding to inquiries about political shifts, he stated that anyone can join the Congress party as long as they accept its ideology, affirming confidence in the success of Congress candidate Raju Poojary in the Dakshina Kannada Local Authorities bypoll.
