Sunday, June 18, 2017

Prez Pranab on last leg in tenure: Undertakes religious pilgrim in Karnataka

Pranab offers prayers at 800-yr-old Krishna Matha temple

Prez at Mookambica Temple 

Udupi, Jun 18 (UNI) President Pranab Mukherjee today offered prayers at Sree Krishna Matha temple here in the coastal town of KarnatakaChief priest Vishvesh Tirth Swamy assisted the President in offering the 'pooja' at the 800-year-old temple. The temple has rich tradition of being popular among all sections of the people as in the past the shepherd community used to face social discrimination in the region.Saint Kanaka was the first shepherd community devotee to offer prayer at the temple. Kanaka is said to have darshan of Lord Krishna while performing prayers in the vicinity.

Mukherjee also offered prayer at the ancient Mookambika Temple at Kollur near Udupi town.He was accompanied by his sister-in-law Subhra Ghosh and few other relatives.
The chief priest Narshima Adigha guided the President to perform puja at the historic temple set up in tribute for Devi's lingam. This is one of the shaktipeeth sthal famous from the ancient time and the temple was set up after Adhi Sankaracharya visited the place about 1800 years ago.
                He became the first Indian President to visit the ancient temple.

President laid the foundation stone for Shambhu Shetty Memorial Haji Abdullah Super Speciality Hospital, Udupi promoted by NRI businessman Dr B R Shetty.

Mukherjee slammed ''vandalism'' often carried by relatives and friends of patients when something happens to their near and dear ones and said ''no civilised society can tolerate this''.Laying the foundation stone of a super-speciality hospital in the temple city here, Mr Mukherjee said, ''Such vandalism should be condemned.''
The President said, ''If you cannot trust a doctor, whom can you trust.'' He also said that medical services should be made accessible and affordable to the common people, especially in rural areas.
Mr Mukherjee said ratio of one doctor to 1700 people in India is also ''misleading'' and most doctors in the country are concentrated in urban areas.

The President recalled his association with the people of Udupi region when late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi contested 1978 Lok Sabha election from Chikmagalur constituency.
Prez flags off 11.3 km last leg Bangaluru Metro: Lauds citizens for their hospitality 

Bengaluru, Jun 17 (UNI) President Pranab Mukherjee today urged citizens of Karnataka capital to keep up their high traditions of 'hospitality and decency' as required by a metropolitan character in the modern time.

Dedicating 11.3 km of first phase of metro connectivity, Mr Mukherjee said, "The people of Bengaluru have displayed high tradition of hospitality, co-operation, decency and all the qualities of a metropolitan personality which the people of Bengaluru have acquired."

Mr Mukherjee also flagged off a new train between Mantri Square Mall and Yelchenahalli.The function was also addressed by the State Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala who urged the Centre to provide 100 per cent funding of Rs 26,000-crore for the second phase of Bengaluru Metro which will provide connectivity to 72 km stretch long distance.

The first phase of Bengaluru Metro was financed by Japanese agencies JICA and AFD of France.

In role reversal with CM, K'taka Guv steals limelight


Bengaluru, Jun 17 (UNI) It was a virtual 'role reversal' between Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala and state Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, when the former tried to make a more political point vis-a-vis the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre, while the political man and the Chief Minister maintained a nicety.

At the function organised to mark the beginning of the last section of 11.3 km of Namma Metro here, the Governor, speaking immediately after the Chief Minister took the political line, said he would speak for the people of the state and demanded that the BJP-led Government at the Centre should provide 100 per cent funding of Rs 26,000-crore second phase of Bengaluru Metro project.

"I think the Chief Minister missed the point," the Governor said and urged the Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu to take the initiative in releasing the 100 per cent money for the second phase ambitious project.

Mr Vala, who was Finance Minister of Gujarat for six years under Narendra Modi, said, "I know from my experience as a former Finance Minister of Gujarat that the money saved for infrastructure projects by the states ultimately help the nation in a big way and the money also goes to the Central kitty".

The Governor was speaking in the presence of a galaxy of VVIPs, including the President Pranab Mukherjee and Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu, Ananth Kumar and DV Sadanand Gowda.

Mr Vala also went on to say that Mr Venkaiah Naidu, who is a now a sitting member of Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan, has been elected to the Upper House of Parliament thrice earlier and thus, he has an obligation to the state of Karnataka and thus ought to respond positively to the request.

Earlier in his speech, the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the first phase of Bengaluru Metro has been built at a cost of Rs 13,845-crore and the 72 km stretch second phase as being proposed would need Rs 26,000-crore.
At present, according to sources in the State Government, the Centre has assured 50 per cent funding pattern to the states for major Metro Rail projects.

ends

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