Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Apr 15: “Let us not identify Dr B R Ambedkar with any particular class or community. He was a great leader of all the classes in the country,” said Dr P L Dharma, head of the department of political science in Mangalore University. He was delivering the main address at the district level birth anniversary function of Dr B R Ambedkar held in the city on Wednesday April 14.

The programme was organized under the joint aegis of the Dakshina Kannada district administration, social welfare department and the city corporation.

“People’s representatives and officials should introspect on their way of functioning and belief systems. We can not achieve overall welfare of the country unless the leaders and the people develop self respect and personality, fortified with sincerity and truthfulness. Unless this is done, holding of umpteen programmes will have no positive affect on the country’s progress. Of late, we see glorification of untouchability with a dash of modernity. This is evident by the number of caste-based organizations that have been mushrooming of late. Just like the Bhagawadgita, Quran, and Bible, which are religious books, the constitution of our country also is very important and sacred. There is a need to assimilate this truth among all classes of people. Since a very young age, political education should be imparted to make the people conscious about values. We do not need leaders who break the society on the lines of caste, creed, community and religion,” Dr Dharma stressed.

Earlier in the day, the progrmme was inaugurated by the district in-charge minister, Krishna J Palemar. In his inaugural address, the minister urged the officials to work honestly and dutifully to ensure that the benefits of the government schemes reach the lowest echelons of the society.

MLA, N Yogish Bhat, presided. Zilla panchayat president, Santosh Kumar Bhandary, MLA, U T Khader, city mayor, Rajani Dugganna, deputy mayor, Rajendra Kumar, taluk panchayat president, Ramachandra Kumpala, and Coastal Development Authority chairman, B Nagaraj Shetty, were the chief guests.