15th AGM of Karnataka NRI Forum Jeddah held, new executive committee formed
Jeddah, Dec 23: The Karnataka NRI Forum Jeddah recently organized its 15th annual general body meeting on December 15. The event, held at The Village Restaurant Banquet Hall in Jeddah, aimed to discuss community welfare and achievements. The gathering included community members, distinguished guests, and featured Raza Ali Khan, country manager of Air India and Air India Express - Western Province, Saudi Arabia, as the guest of honor.
During the meeting, Raza Ali Khan expressed gratitude to the forum for its efforts in promoting the welfare of Kannadigas. He commended their initiatives in fostering unity, preserving culture, and providing support to the NRI community. Khan acknowledged the KNRI Forum Jeddah’s delegation for their proposal to start direct passenger flight services from Jeddah to Mangaluru. He assured that Air India management is considering the request with top priority.
Outgoing president Mohammed Mansoor welcomed the guest of honor and attendees. He thanked everyone for their support during his tenure and presented a memento to Raza Ali Khan as a token of appreciation. The outgoing general secretary, Peter Mascarenhas Udupi, presented the forum's annual report, outlining achievements in cultural events, cricket tournaments, educational programs, and social welfare projects.
The financial report for 2022-2023 was presented by treasurer Habib Rahman Uchila, emphasizing transparency and responsible financial management. The new executive committee for 2023-2024 was formed under the supervision of election officer Dr Ashfaq Maniyar Bijapur.
The newly elected executive committee includes Sabu Chandran as president, Shaikh Saoud Yermal as general secretary, Arifulla Shariff and Habib Rahman Uchila as vice presidents, Mohammed Imran as treasurer, and Mohammed Ismail as joint treasurer. Additional coordinators and committee members were also appointed for the 2023-2024 term.
The annual general body meeting, hosted by Saoud Yermal, concluded with a vote of thanks from Mohammed Imran. Attendees enjoyed a diverse culinary experience and cultural performances.
The office bearers team of 2023-2024 term has the following additional coordinators and executive committee members. Joint secretary R Dorai Swamy from KGF, coordinators – cultural Mohammed Kaleem from Raichur and Rajesh Suvarna from Mangaluru, coordinator – sports Mohammed Fayaz from Udupi, chief coordinator – Mahboob Ali Khan from Bengaluru and assistant chief coordinator Peter Mascarenhas from Udupi, internal auditor – Rafeeq Ahmed Bengaluru, advisors – Mohammed Mansoor Mangaluru and Dr Ashfaq Maniyar Bijapura.
Mukarram Khan Bengaluru, Faize Abdul Razak Shaikh Mangaluru, Mohammed Haneef Sakleshpur, Denis Noronha Udupi, Jerry Gomes Murudeshwar, Suhail Malik Rayachuru, Mohammed Saifuddin Sami Mysore, Mohammed Irshad Sandi Belagavi, Thomas Daniel Hubli, Shakil Ahmed Raichur, Mahantesh Bagalakote, Salim Hubbali from Belagavi, Zeeshan Mansoor Bale-Hannooru, Raza Ali Khan Bengaluru, Waseem Ahmed Tumakuru, Mohammed Sajid Kanakapura, Mohamad Arshad Husain Mangaluru and Qamar Sada Bhatkal.
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Top leaders of INDIA bloc will scramble for PM's post if it comes to power: Shah
Jhanjarpur (Bihar), Apr 29: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday warned that a victory of the opposition INDIA bloc, “even by mistake”, will lead to a scramble among top leaders of the alliance for the prime minister’s post.
Shah claimed that leaders like M K Stalin, Sharad Pawar, Lalu Prasad and Mamata Banerjee may agree to a year each of premiership, by turns, and “Rahul baba (Rahul Gandhi) will have to settle for whatever is left of the tenure”.
In contrast, he said, “a third term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead to elimination of corruption from the entire country, including Bihar, and eradication of casteism in the state”.
“Modi’s return to power is certain. But, suppose, even by mistake, if the INDIA alliance comes to power, what will happen? Who will be the prime minister? Will it be Stalin, Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerjee or Rahul Gandhi? They will all settle for sharing the top post for a year each. Is it how the country can be run?” Shah said.
The senior BJP leader, who addressed election rallies in Jhanjharpur and Begusarai Lok Sabha constituencies of Bihar, also charged the opposition bloc with seeking restoration of triple talaq.
"Should we have triple talaq? INDI alliance leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Lalu Prasad say they will protect Muslim Personal Law. They should forget their plans. The BJP government will implement a Uniform Civil Code across the country,” Shah asserted.
Claiming that Modi’s victory and a third term in office were certain, he also cautioned against "political instability" that may follow if the INDIA coalition manages to form a government “even by mistake”.
"We need a leadership that is strong and not helpless. If the INDIA alliance comes to power... M K Stalin, Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerjee, Lalu Prasad, all of them may become PM for a year each. Rahul baba will settle for whatever is left of the tenure,” Shah said.
The home minister, who is often credited with abrogation of Article 370, also accused the Congress and its allies with having protected special status to Jammu and Kashmir like an "auras Putra” (one's own offspring).
"Rahul Gandhi had tried to scare us by claiming that scrapping Article 370 will cause rivers of blood to flow. But, when the Modi government made the move, nobody even dared to throw a pebble,” said Shah.
Slamming Gandhi for his “new-found concern for OBCs”, the home minister said “the Congress party has always been against the Other Backward Classes. It had opposed the Mandal Commission. Modi has emerged from among the OBCs and the community has been empowered during his tenure as never before”.
He also showered encomiums on Modi for abrogation of Article 370 and strong counter-terrorism steps like surgical strikes in contrast with the previous Congress-led UPA regime, “when for 10 years, terrorists struck at will”.
Attacking the opposition for alleging misuse of central agencies, Shah said, “Should there be no action against the corrupt? Whoever is found guilty of swindling money meant for the poor people of the country, must be in jail”.
He also said the opposition camp had neither leaders nor resolve, alleging “Sonia Gandhi’s sole concern is making her son the prime minister, while Lalu Prasad wants to make his son the chief minister of Bihar”.
Shah alleged that the Congress and the RJD supremo did not give due respect to former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur, but the BJP recognised his contribution and conferred the Bharat Ratna on him.
In Begusarai, where Union minister Giriraj Singh seeks to retain the seat for BJP, Shah mockingly referred to main rival CPI as "laal bhai" and urged the people to vote for the sitting MP "in huge numbers so that the next time they do not muster the courage to enter the fray".
