Prof. Dr. UT Iftikhar Ali felicitated by Bearys Chamber of Commerce and Industries
Mangalore: Prof. Dr. UT Iftikhar Ali, who has recently been appointed as the Karnataka State President of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare, was honored at a felicitation ceremony organized by the Bearys Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BCCI) on Friday at Ocean Pearl Hotel in Mangalore.
During the event, Prof. Dr. Iftikhar Ali expressed his gratitude for the recognition and shared details about his new role. He highlighted that 54 healthcare-related courses have been unified under a single council. He mentioned that several candidates were considered for the Chairmanship of the council, but the government ultimately selected him for the position. Prof. Ali revealed that even his brother, Karnataka Assembly Speaker UT Khader, was unaware of his appointment until the official order was released. He assured that he would only use government facilities in Bangalore and expressed his commitment to assist deserving individuals to the best of his ability.
He also emphasized the importance of educational institutions, especially those serving minority communities, in taking advantage of opportunities to introduce new healthcare courses. He noted that nearly 90% of minorities in the Kerala-Karnataka region are receiving education here locally.
Dr. Yenepoya Abdulla Kunhi, Vice Chancellor of Yenepoya University, congratulated Prof. Ali on his appointment. He praised Prof. Ali for his upbringing in a cultured family and his ability to build strong relationships with colleagues. Dr. Kunhi described Prof. Ali as a role model for the youth and credited his success to the support of his wife and family.
BCCI President SM Rasheedd Haji, who presided over the event, expressed confidence in Prof. Ali's future prospects. He voiced hopes that Prof. Ali’s elder brother, UT Khader, would one day become the Chief Minister of Karnataka and that Prof. Ali would be elected as a Member of Parliament representing the Dakshina Kannada constituency. Haji emphasized the need for a strong leader within the Muslim community and urged Prof. Ali to take on that responsibility.
BCCI officials like Mansoor Ahmed Azad, Shaukat Shourie, BM Mumtaz Ali, Muhammad Harris, Abdul Razzak Goltamzalu, A.H. Muhammad, Abdullah Monu, Badruddin Delta, Muhammad Arabi, Rahim Karnire, Hamid Kuliyar, Altaf Khatib, H. Muhammad, Latif Mulki, P. Hashir, Iqbal Ahmed Bangalore, Dr. Yusuf Dubai, Dr. Kapu Muhammad, Ibrahim Kalak, Ibrahim Kodijal, Haider Parthippadi, K. Ashraf and others were present.
The program began with a recitation of the Qiraat by Hafiz Hasan Ashiq Abdullah. BCCI Organizing Secretary Nissar F. Mohammed welcomed the attendees, General Secretary Muhammad Imthiyaz delivered the vote of thanks, and Rafiq Master served as the program’s narrator.
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BJP dreaming to win polls with money power: West Bengal BJP MLA after bypoll loss
Kolkata, Nov 23: As the ruling Trinamool Congress swept the by-elections in six assembly seats in West Bengal, Kurseong's party MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma attacked the state leadership, saying the party dreams of winning polls with money power and that it sidelines legislators and gives "unnecessary importance and responsibilities" to MPs.
The TMC retained five of the six seats it had previously won during the 2021 polls, while wresting the key Madarihat seat from the saffron camp in north Bengal’s Alipurduar district.
In a Facebook post, Sharma alleged, "The BJP runs a membership drive in West Bengal over the phone from a Kolkata office, while party leaders turn a blind eye to factionalism within the party. The party sidelines MLAs and gives unnecessary importance and responsibilities to MPs. It dreams of winning elections relying on money power. Despite having no shortage of political issues in the state, it centers its politics solely around religion."
"The BJP accuses opponents of corruption while carrying Adani and Ambani on its shoulders. It tries to undermine the rights of the indigenous population by luring Bangladeshi Hindus with promises of CAA. It halts MGNREGA funds and indulges in such tactics, hoping to win elections in the state," he alleged.
On the other hand, the BJP MLA lauded TMC saying, that the ruling party in the state, armed with 26 different "pro-poor schemes" such as Kanyashree Prakalpa, Gitanjali Housing Scheme, Krishak Bandhu Scheme, Nijo Griha Nijo Bhumi, Rupashree Prakalpa, Shishu Sathi Scheme, and Student Credit Card, quietly works at the grassroots level.
"Now, you decide who will win the elections. I have never seen a culture of self-criticism within the BJP; otherwise, this outcome wouldn't have occurred," he added.
Since the 2021 assembly elections, the TMC has won every by-election, except the Sagardighi bypoll in March 2023, which was won by a Congress candidate who later switched to the TMC.
With this victory, TMC's tally in the 294-member state assembly rose to 216, further consolidating its position. The BJP's tally, on the other hand, dropped to 69, from 77 in 2021.
