Udupi: A district-level Congress Workers Convention was held at SMS Auditorium Brahmavar here, on Saturday, November 29.
The programme began with the Vande Matharam. Secretary of district Congress, Narasimhamoorthy welcomed the gathering. Former Union minister and AICC General Secretary Oscar Fernandes inaugurated the convention by lighting the lamp.
In his message, Oscar said, “The Panchayat Raj system has taken shape in the country. When the late Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister, he upheld the rights of the people in the Constitution and the Panchayat Raj was strengthened by it. The Gram Panchayat system is the foundation of Indian democracy. India is the second fastest growing nation in the world because of the efforts made by former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. Congress brought about 33 and 50 per cent reservation for women in Panchayats and local bodies respectively. Congress empowered women by reserving 50 per cent seats in Gram Panchayats for them.” He urged the members of GPs to make their Panchayat’s people friendly.
Byndoor MLA and district Congress president, Gopal Poojary presided over the function. K Jayaprakash Hegde, former MP of Udupi-Chikkamagaluru, highlighted the “anti-people policies” of the union government. Pramod Madhwarj, Udupi MLA and parliamentary secretary, was felicitated during the convention.
MLC Prathapchandra Shetty, former MLA of Karkala H Gopal Bhandary, former MLA of Brahmavar P Basavaraj, KPCC secretary M G Gafoor, Chairman of Karnataka Fisheries Development Board B Hiriyanna, Chairperson of KSDL and president of district Mahila Congress Veronica Cornelio, Ashok Kumar Kodavoor, Murali Shetty, Sunil D Bangera, Yuvaraj, Vikas Shetty, Rehmat Sheq, Janardhan Tonse, Satish Ameen and others were present.