Mangalore: J R Lobo Ideal Representative, has Done his Work Silently - Ronald Colaco
Stanley Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (RD)
Mangalore, Jul 30: A public felicitation ceremony for J R Lobo, who joined Congress recently, was organized at St Sebastian’s auditorium, Bendore, here on Sunday July 29 evening.
NRI entrepreneur and philanthropist Ronald Colaco felicitated J R Lobo for his exemplary social work and civil service in various important posts.
Addressing the gathering, Ronald Colaco said, "It's all our effort to get a sincere, honest officer as a politician to represent the Mangalore community, and since Congress has decided to give only two places for Christian representatives (Bangalore and Mangalore) we thought he would be ideal."
"There are lots of issues facing society - issues related to culture, religion - fundamental organizations attacking places of worship, indulging in moral policing now and then and so on. J R Lobo's credentials are well known to the public and to political parties. If he is the local representative, things will get done at the government level as he knows many in the government,"
He further said, "There are apprehensions that he is new to politics. How can he be new? He has vast experience in managing various political stalwarts, like Oscar Fernandes, Veerappa Moily, Blazsius D'Souza, Nagaraj Shetty and many more. He has managed politicians and their requirements, and at the same time met the needs of the people, be it with healthcare, garbage disposal, roads and so on, in every capacity."
He recalled that when he was the honourary chairman of Karnataka Agenda Task Force (KATF) J R Lobo had provided an enormous amount of statistics as a result of which the sea port was upgraded, the airport began international operations, access roads were developed and other roads were widenened. "He has done his work silently, no one knows about," he said.
"Because of the extent of development works he did, in the previous elections, 43 Congress corporators got elected," he pointed out.
Hence, he cannot be new to politics, Colaco asserted.
Ronald Colaco openly condemned the incident at the Congress office on the day when J R Lobo and other 30-40 people joined the party. "Ivan D'Souza who I had helped even when he was new and even after he lost the last elections by 9000 votes, came to the programme with anti-social elements and tried to create a ruckus."
"I had warned him the previous night that I had information that he would be trying to create problems, and told him, 'If you are a sincere and loyal member of Congress you should welcome Lobo and not disrupt the programme and spoil your political career. I asked him to be part of the political process and that I was his well-wisher. But the next day he created so much chaos. As chairman of IFKCA, I strongly condemn this," Colaco said.
MLA U T Khader said that one has plenty to learn from veteran bureaucrat J R Lobo. "The district Congress committee is fortunate to have him as its member," he said.
Local Congress leaders Suresh Ballal, Tejomaya, Kallige Taranat Shetty, Mahabala Marla, Tejasviraj and others were present.
Titus Noronha welcomed the gathering. Lawyer M P Noronha delivered the introductory address. Vitori Karkal compered the programme.