George Fernandes memorial inaugurated at Bejai church
Mangaluru: A memorial erected for late union minister and socialist leader George Fernandes at the Bejai Church cemetery here was inaugurated on Sunday.
The memorial, built on his mortal remains as per his religious customs, was inaugurated by Mangaluru bishop Peter Paul Saldanha. Speaking after blessing the memorial, Saldanha said the late leader always stood for the working class and fulfilled their dreams.
A son of Mangaluru, he moved to Mumbai and then to the national capital to work for different sections of people in the country, the bishop said.
He said Fernandes, a former Defence and Railway minister, had the extraordinary ability to dream big which resulted in the establishment of Konkan Railway project.
He knew the power of democracy and the pulse of the people, thereby earning powerful positions at the Centre.
Fernandes brother Micheal Fernandes, who also spoke, thanked the church and all others for erecting the memorial and urged the people to carry the late leaders work forward.
Church officials, former MLA J R Lobo and corporators were among those present on the occasion. Fernandes, who was born in Bejai in 1930, had an eventful career in national politics spanning decades.
He was elected to the Lok Sabha nine times and once to the Rajya Sabha. He died of Alzheimer's disease in 2019.
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Gehlot changes profile pic to 'Save Aravalli', asks Centre to reconsider definition
Jaipur (PTI): Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Thursday urged the Centre to reconsider its definition of the Aravallis, warning that any damage to the mountain range posed a serious threat to the ecological future of north India.
Gehlot, a former Rajasthan chief minister, changed his social media profile picture in support of the nationwide 'SaveAravalli' campaign amid growing debate over mining and environmental safeguards in the Aravalli Range.
It was his symbolic protest against the new interpretation under which hills lower than 100 metres are no longer being recognised as part of the Aravalli system, he said.
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"The Aravalli cannot be judged by tape measures or height alone. It must be assessed by its ecological importance," Gehlot said, adding that the revised definition raised "a big question" over the future of north India.
Appealing to the Centre and the Supreme Court, Gehlot said the issue must be reconsidered in the interest of future generations and environmental security. He also urged citizens to participate in the campaign by changing their display pictures online to draw attention to the issue.
He said the Aravalli range functioned as a natural green wall against the expansion of the Thar desert and extreme heatwaves, protecting Delhi, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. Opening up smaller hills and so-called gap areas for mining would allow desertification to advance rapidly, he warned.
Gehlot also flagged concerns over air pollution, saying the hills and forests of the Aravallis acted as the "lungs" of the National Capital Region by checking dust storms and absorbing pollutants.
"When pollution levels are so alarming even with the Aravalli standing, one can imagine how disastrous the situation will be without it," he said.
Highlighting the water crisis, the former chief minister said the rocky terrain of the Aravallis played a crucial role in groundwater recharge by channelising rainwater underground.
"If the hills are destroyed, drinking water shortages will intensify, wildlife will disappear and the entire ecology will be pushed into danger," he said.
Gehlot argued that, from a scientific perspective, the Aravallis was a continuous chain and that even smaller hillocks were as vital as higher peaks.
