Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Nov 29: Amid internal conflicts in the Udupi district Congress, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president D K Shivakumar on Sunday, November 29 called upon Congress leaders and workers to unite and work for the development of the party and said that without sacrifice or effort, the party cannot strengthen.

Addressing the Congress workers' convention at the Basel Missionaries Memorial Auditorium in the city he said, "There are sure to be differences of opinion within the party. But we need to move ahead and let bygones be bygones. Without sacrifice or effort, there will be no strength. I want the voice of the party workers, be my voice. We need to stop blaming and foul mouthing others. It is time to correct past mistakes. The party should live forever. Everyone should be given an opportunity to share their opinion and no one should resort to blackmailing. No one should feel that the party runs because of them. If anyone wishes to leave the party, he will be allowed to do so with all respect."

"I am fortunate to be in Congress. We all should capitalise on this opportunity to work our way to gain entry into the parliament. Use me as a stepping stone to reach Vidhana Soudha and accept me as one of you," he added.

He was speaking after inaugurating the district Congress convention organized by the Udupi district Congress Committee, quoting words of a scholar Shivakumar said, “God is one, but people worship in different ways according to their culture, religion. He is known by several names but God is one and the devotion vested in Him by the people is the same," adding to this Shivakumar alleged that the BJP was seeking votes by dividing religion, caste, emotions of people. "Religion does not belong to anyone nor is it anyone's property," he stressed.

"BJP is not opposed to the implementation of the Kasturirangan report. The BJP-led government in the state is also preparing to extract the tribals from the forests. They have taken away the rights and privileges of the farmers by amending the Land Reform Act and APMC act," the KPCC chief said.

Speaking regarding the upcoming gram panchayat elections, Shivakumar said, "New faces, educated people and women should be given an opportunity to contest in the upcoming gram panchayat elections. It is not a person that one should worship in Congress, but the party. I refuse to rest until my party activists get power and these activists are my strength. There is a need for us to make to bring about changes in our thoughts. We must always know that all the different wings of Congress important and all the units must work under district president and within the boundaries set by the party."

Talking about the party turning digital, the KPCC president said, "State Congress will launch a new app to keep party workers active during the party programmes. The app will have a GPS to track the activities. A committee named Praja Pratinidhi will be formed at the booth level and the party will appoint a youth at the booth level to maintain an active presence over digital activities. Today we do not have Congress MLA in Udupi, therefore there is a need to focus more in districts of Uttara Kannada, Udupi and Kodagu. Let us have a 100% victory over BJP in the upcoming gram panchayat elections. As the strength of the party lies in the village or booth level."

Speaking on the occasion, former minister Vinay Kumar Sorake said, “D K Shivakumar has been through challenging situations. But, he never backed out from facing them. He grew stronger. BJP tried to suppress his voice by carrying out an IT, ED raids. However, he overcame all those situations. Udupi Congress has a history of winning all local body elections, let us all work to make it happen again and work to be victorious in the upcoming local body elections. The ruling party has been misleading the people in the name of religion. The present government has proposed to bring an amendment in the Constitution. As Congressmen, we should put our efforts in protecting the secular and democratic aspect of our Constitution. If we all work together, there is no doubt that we can repeat history."

District Youth Congress president Vishwas Amin shared his thoughts on the occasion as well.

State Mahila wing president Pushpa Amarnath said, "Congress has provided reservation to women. It has given equal rights and equal position to women. Women play an important role in gram panchayat elections. The National Congress has brought in ideal projects and programmes for Indians. In order to achieve a 100% result, we must unite people at the booth level. We need to unite the party and strengthen it."

Shivakumar also remembered the service rendered by Oscar Fernandes and prayed for his early recovery during the programme.

A silent prayer for one minute was observed for the departed souls of Ahmad Patel, former treasurer of All India Congress party and Tarun Gogoi, former chief minister of Assam.

State Kisan Congress president Sachin Meega, former minister Ivan D'Souza, Dakshina Kannada Youth Congress president Mithun Rai, Saurabh Ballal district NSUI, Rajshekhar Kodavoor, Abhaychandra Jain, senior leader M A Gafoor, former MLAs Gopal Bhandary, Prakhyath Shetty vice president, DCC, U R Sabhapathi, Veronica Cornelio, Geetha Vagle, Mahila Congress wing district president, Chandrika Shetty, Prashanth Jathanna, Annayya Sherigar and Keerthi Shetty and others were present.

D K Shivakumar was also conferred with the guard of honour from the district Congress Seva Dal unit.

Ashok Kumar Kodavoor district president, Udupi district Congress Committee welcomed the gathering. Sudhakar Karkala, Dr Sunitha Shetty, Bhaskar Rao Kidiyoor, Y Sukumar hosted the programme.

Former MLA Pramod Madhwaraj did not attend the convention. However, he met Shivakumar briefly earlier in the day, before leaving to Madikeri. Party sources said that Madhwaraj and his supporters are unhappy as he feels sidelined by the party. A protest had been called in front of the venue and pandal had been set up for the purpose, but after Shivakumar spoke to the dissident Congress workers, it was called off.

D K Shivakumar later met Udupi bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo. The bishop felicitated the KPCC president on the occasion.

Fr Vincent Crasta, secretary, CESU, Fr William Martis, Prashanth Jathanna, Vinay Kumar Sorake, M A Gafoor, Mithun Rai and others were present.

Shivakumar also met Muslim community leaders Maulana Rasheed Ahmed Nadwi, Harshad Ahmed, V S Umar and others. A memorandum with demands of the community was submitted to the KPCC chief.