Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (SR/CN)

Mangalore, Aug 20: The birth anniversaries of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and former chief minister Devraj Urs, were celebrated in the Congress office on Friday August 20.

District Congress president Ramanath Rai said that Rajiv was the 7th Prime Minister of India, who assumed the post after his mother’s death on October 31, 1984. He became the youngest Prime Minister of India when he took office at the age of 40.

“Rajiv was the elder son of Indira Gandhi and Feroze Gandhi and was the minister who brought in amendments to Panchayat Raj and gave voting rights to the youth. He increased government support for science and technology and associated industries, and reduced import quotas, taxes, and tariffs on technology-based industries, especially computers, airlines, defense and telecommunications”, said Rai.

Speaking of Urs, Rai said that he was a minister who remained in politics for many years and was twice the chief minister of the state. “Originally from Mysore, he was a member of what came to be known as the ‘syndicate’ of powerful regional leaders. He is particularly remembered for his reforms that uplifted the scheduled castes and other backward classes of the state.

Rai also commented on the BJP rule and accused the administration of never listening to the opposition party. He said that they believed in words rather then working and should concentrate on development.

“The BJP, in a hurry to become rich, are making paupers of citizens. It is a very shameful issue that they are ministers who are elected to help the common man and develop the state,” he added speaking of the Bellary issue.

Kallige Taranath Shetty, Sadashiva Ullal, Ivan D’Souza, Ashraf, Moideeen Bava, Vijay Kumar Shetty, Suresh Ullal, Mamata Gatti and Ashok Kumar were present.