Mangalore: Inspired by Janardhan Poojary, People Help Visually-impaired Artiste
 
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)

Mangalore, Jan 21: Former minister B Janardhan Poojary came forward with a unique gesture on Saturday January 21, when he gave away a sum of Rs 1200 to visually-impaired artiste Manjappa of Bangalore and called upon Congress leaders like B Ramanath Rai, Dinesh Gundurao, U T Khader, Ivan D’Souza, Vijay Kumar Shetty, Bondala Jagannath Shetty, Arun Coelho, Mithun Rai and others who were on the stage to join the cause.

When usually only speeches dominate political party programmes, here was something different. Within 10 minutes, along with the Congress leaders, the people in the audience were so motivated by Poojary that one by one everyone ascended the stage and gave away their contribution in appreciation of the artiste.

The total amount rose to Rs 57,800 and Poojary handed it to over to Manjappa, saying that it was not 'donation' given to him on sympathy but a token of appreciation for fighting against all odds and succeeding in life.
 
The occasion was an eye donation programme organized by Dakshina Kannada Youth Congress Committee in Townhall on Saturday.
 
In his inaugural address Rizwan Arshad, president, Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress Committee said that the youth Congress in the state has been organizing useful campaigns for the people. It is trying to meet people who are at the grassroots level.

"Many pro-people programmes initiated by the UPA government have not reached the people in the state due to inefficiency of the state government officials," he lamented, adding, "The BJP government has been misusing the youth power to create communal divide. The recent Pakistan flag hoisting incident in Sidhagi was an anti-national act, but the government is trying close the case with police registering a mere FIR. The recent proposal of CM Sadananda Gowda, who said a new youth budget will be presented, is just like another ‘agriculture’ budget by former CM Yeddyurappa to bluff the people," he rued.

He said within a year assembly election will take place. "BJP is polarizing people by blackmailing them with emotions and sentiments, instead of carrying out development works," he said.