Inchara Kaup
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)
 
Udupi, Sep 13: “The state government should give prominence to the Billawa community by appointing a minister,” urged Sagar MLA Beloor Gopalakrishna.
 
Addressing media persons after visiting Vishvanath temple, Katpady, and meeting Billawa community leaders here on Monday September 12, MLA Gopalakrishna said that the Billava community has a population of 60,000 across the state, and the reigning state government has not appointed a minister from the community so far. 

“The new chief minister D V Sadanand Gowda must take note of this issue while expanding the cabinet,” he stressed.
 
Former state minister Vasant V Salian said that the earlier state government had given prominence to the Billawa community in the cabinet.  “It’s ironical that the reigning state government has not given such prominence to the community so far,” he added.
 
Both Vasant Salian and MLA Gopalakrishna urged the state and union governments to introduce a uniform policy on sand minding in the coastal district.
 
Billawa community local leaders Sudhakar D Amin, Ashok M Suvarna, Harischandra Amin, and Srikar Suvarna were present on the occasion.