News and Pics From Rons Bantwal
For Daijiworld Media Network—Mumbai (RD/CN)

Mumbai, Aug 26: Billava and veteran Congress leader Janardhan Poojary motivated me to plunge into politics by contesting for parliamentary polls, said Oscar Fernandes, union minister for labour and employment, here on Monday, August 25.

He also commended Billava Association president Jaya Suvarna and people hailing from undivided Dakshina Kannada district and Karnataka who are now settled in the metro, for  their contributions to scoiety.

Fernandes was addressing the gathering at the Sri Narayana Guru auditorium, located at Billava Bhavan, Santa Cruz (East), after paying obeisance to Brahma Sri Narayan Guru and Koti–Chennayya. He had arrived here, with his wife Blossom Fernandes, from Udupi.

Jaya Suvarna felicitated the Fernandes couple on their 27th wedding anniversary. Kripashankar Singh, president, Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC), was also felicitated on the occasion.

Labour union leader Felix A D’Souza Taccode, MLA Jagannath K Shetty, corporator Dharmesh Vyas, Shivaji Singh, Alice Therattil, entrepreneur Rajesh Kotian, Chandrahas K Shetty, Congress leaders Shankar Suvarna Khar, S Javed, Umesh D Kotian, Srinivas Karkera, Association vice president Y Nagesh, M B Kukyan, V R Kotian, L V Amin, honorary chief treasurer Bhaskar V Bangera, women wing executive president Jayanti V Ullal, Seva Dal leader Ganesh K Poojary, honorary secretary C T Salian, and joint secretary Shankar D Poojary were present on the dais.

Honorary chief secretary Nityanand D Kotian welcomed the gathering and compered the programme.