Pics: Joshwa D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JD)

Updated

Mangaluru, Nov 7: As part of the nationwide celebration of the 100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister the late Indira Gandhi, a mammoth convention of party workers will be organised at Nehru Maidan in the city on November 19," said Dr Parameshwar, home minister and president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).

Addressing media persons at the Circuit House during his visit to the city on Monday November 7, he said, "This convention will be a gathering of party workers from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Kodagu, Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru districts. National leaders of the party including Digvijay Singh, Mallikarjun Kharge, Chellakumar, Oscar Fernandes, Shantharam Naik, state leaders like Dharam Singh, all the ministers along with the chief minister will participate in the programme."

Many other programmes including workshops, debates etc in schools and colleges will be organised to spread awareness about the works and programs introduced by Indira Gandhi, he said.

When asked if former minister Janardhan Poojary would be invited for the conventon, Dr Parameshwar said with a smile that he had 'missed' his name and that he would be invited.

Regarding BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje's accusation about minister Roshan Baig's role in Rudresh's murder and claims that she has proof, Parameshwara retorted that she should hand over the proof to the police department. "If she does not do so, she will have to face legal action," he said.

"When a person is murdered, we do not see whether he is a Congress party worker or from BJP or RSS. A murder is a murder, and it is an offence which will be dealt with mercilessly and stern action will be taken against the murderers," he asserted.

He also added that anyone disrupting law and order will be dealt with seriously during Tipu Jayanti celebrations.

District in-charge minister Ramanath Rai, food and civil supplies minister U T Khader, Puttur MLA Shakunthala Shetty and other Congress leaders were present.

Earlier Report

Mangaluru: Home minister urges BJP, public to support Tipu Jayanti

Pics: Johnas Sequiera
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, Nov 7: Home minister Dr G Parameshwar on Monday November 7 urged the opposition BJP and the public at large to join the Congress-led state government in celebrating the much debated Tipu Jayanti on November 10.

Speaking to reporters during his visit to the city en route to Udupi where he will attend Vinay Kumar Sorake's daughter's engagement, Parameshwar said, "The state government has decided to celebrate Tipu Jayanti and in order to do it peacefully throughout the state, all parties and people must support it. I request everyone to join hands in this.

"I am aware that BJP is holding statewide protests against Tipu Jayanti, but I request the opposition party to support the programme peacefully. The government took this decision of celebrating Tipu Jayanti only after holding many discussions.

"Yesterday (Sunday November 6), the chief minister and I held a meeting with senior officials and directed them to take a decision on whether or not to permit procession on Tipu Jayanti. The district administrations will decide about it."

Parameshwar expressed confidence that the Congress would win the upcoming Mysuru by-elections. "Moreover, a few days ago the chief minister and I conducted a meeting of the party workers and filled confidence in them," he added.

Asked to respond to the controversial statement by chief minister's media advisor Dinesh Amin Mattu where he brought up the assasination of Indira Gandhi in a remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Parameshwar dismissed the matter saying Mattu has already been asked to give a clarification and he has done so.

Police salary hike

To a question on hike in salaries of police personnel, the home minister said, "We have not given any time frame regarding hike in salary. But for the first time in the country we have formed a committee to study the economic status of officials and personnel as as compared to those in other departments.

"The committee has submitted the report and the proposal has gone to the finance department. The decision will be taken shortly," he assured.

Later Parameshwar held an internal meeting of the district Congress regarding a party convention to be held shortly.

He is likely to participate in the police recruitment drive at NMPT grounds later in the day.