Yahya Hallare

Daijiworld Media Network - Bhatkal (SP)

Bhatkal, Mar 13: "Service-oriented mindset is the most important trait of a person who wants to enter social service sector. Working only during elections is not the right attitude. For our nation to progress and prosper, Congress party has to grow stronger," said Uttara Kannada district in-charge minister, R V Deshpande.

Deshpande was speaking after inaugurating Uttara Kannada district Congress women's convention held on Saturday March 11 at RNS auditorium, Murudeshwar. "Becoming chief minister or prime minister should not be one's most important goal in life. The secular fabric of the society needs to be strengthened. Congress is a party that has earned the trust of people from all castes and religions. One can remain longer in politics if he stays and grows among people," he stated.

The minister accused BJP of trying to hoodwink people through aggressive publicity backed by scores of lies. He lamented the fact that various people-centric programmes implemented by the Congress government in the state are not getting enough publicity. He urged the party workers to see that the schemes of the government are explained to each household. "Our party has given importance to women's empowerment. For this, we have undertaken programmes like 'Stree Shakti'," he said. Speaking about Kasturirangan report, he explained that the government is not against conservation of forests and Western Ghats. At the same time, he said that interests of human beings cannot be sacrificed, and therefore, the state will place its strong stand on this issue before the union government. He called upon leaders and activists of the party to fight for their rights.

All India Congress Committee member,Vishnu Prasad, blamed the central government for causing hike in prices of petrol, diesel, LPG etc through its faulty policies. MLA, Mankalu Vaidya, accused BJP leaders of dismissing road, bridge and other works as not part of development initiatives. "For BJP, plundering of wealth is progress. There has been lot of progress in Bhatkal and Honnavar constituencies in the form of roads, bridges etc. As several buses are operating between Bhatkal and Honnavar, people are happy and students are not protesting on this issue now," he stated. He also blamed BJP of speaking about the country and culture and actually doing nothing about them.

Kumta MLA, Sharada Mohan Shetty, Karwar MLA, Satish Sail, district Congress president, Bheemanna Naik, president of Karnataka State Fisheries Development Corporation, Rajendra Naik, Congress in-charge, Shyamala Bhandary, district Congress women's unit president, Tara Gowda, other leaders like Sai Gaonkar, zilla panchayat member, Pushpa Naik, Vanita Naik, and several others were present.

Zilla panchayat president, Jayashree Mogera, welcomed. Congress district resident,Bheemanna Naik, delivered introductory address.

On this occasion, several people joined Congress.