Mangalore: Seminar Proposes Roads to be Named After George Fernandes
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Jun 5: A seminar on former defense minister George Fernandes organized by George Fernandes Vichara Vedike, Mangalore, was held at Town Hall on Monday June 4. The seminar was organized to celebrate his 82nd birthday.
On the occasion, four resolutions were read out which demanded naming the city’s central railway station after Fernandes, to build a park in Fernandes’s name on a five-acre plot, to include a chapter on the leader in school books, and to name the road from Karambar school (near Bajpe) to Old Air Port Road after Fernandes. Interestingly, a senior person from the audience drew the attention of the Vedike to naming the New Bejai Road too after the former defense minister. The memorandum stating the resolutions was handed over to deputy speaker N Yogish Bhat.
Bhat inaugurated the seminar and said that Fernandes had the aptitude to implement the projects. He said that Fernandes actively participated in trade union movements in Mumbai though he had gone with the intention of getting into religious activities. “He had a clear cut vision when he was the defense minister and was also very well aware of the fact that China is a major military threat to India than Pakistan,” said Bhat. He said that Fernandes is a leader with devotion for the nation.
J C Madhu S Swami, former MLA, Chikkanayakanahalli, addressing the gathering said that Fernandes is a clear reflection of a Socialist. He recalled an incident wherein Fernandes did not hesitate to address the gathering of merely five or six people though he cracked the biggest scam in the nation involving Harshad Mehta.
Michael B Fernandes, labor leader, former MLC, the chief guest, said that Fernandes was upset in recent years over false allegations made against him in the media.
Dr M P Nadagowda, president, JD(U) Karnataka, presided. Thonse Jayakrishna Shetty, Jayaram Shreeyan, H K Balasuri, R L Dais, S P Changappa, Commodore Pereira, and Nazeer Ullal were the guests.
Dharmendra K, Maurice D’Sa, Sudhakar, M Rekha, and Vishanth D’Souza of the Vedike were also present.
However, the poorturn out of participants dampened the spirit of many of those gathered. There were about 80 people present throughout the programme in the Town Hall with a seating capacity of 1,000. Also, the lengthy addresses by some speakers caused people to lose patience and leave.