Mangaluru: Businessman Whitestone Shareef, through the Whitestone Sharif Charitable Trust, distributed scholarships worth Rs 41 lakh to 272 students pursuing various vocational courses under the guidance of the Puttur Community Center. The programme was held at Kudmul Rangarao Town Hall in the city on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. U.T. Ifthikar Ali Fareed of the Karnataka State Allied and Healthcare Professions Council lauded the initiative, stating that Shareef Bolar of Whitestone has significantly supported students pursuing vocational education, enabling them to continue their studies in a better manner. He congratulated Whitestone Shareef for the initiative and also appreciated the efforts of the Puttur Community Center and B-Human Organization for their cooperation.

During the event, Whitestone Group CEO and Team B-Human President B.M. Shareef Bolar distributed the scholarships to the beneficiaries. Addressing the gathering, he said that as part of the trust’s plan for community development, scholarships have been provided to 272 students this year, expressing happiness over being able to extend such substantial support.

Hanif Puttur of the Puttur Community Center said that the organisation, which has been functioning for the past five years, has been supporting students under the leadership of Team B-Human, and scholarships have been distributed this year as well as in the previous year. He added that a total of 836 students are currently pursuing professional education, including 79 in MBBS, 25 in BDS, 26 in BAMS, 85 in CA, and 35 in Law. He emphasised that the initiative is not limited to any one community and that assistance is being extended to students from all communities.

Dakshina Kannada Qazi Thwaka Ahmed Musliyar, State Minorities Commission Director Jeelani Mokashi, Dakshina Kannada district officer Jinendra Kotian, Bearys Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) President S.M. Rasheed Haji, Muslim Educational Institutions Federation (MEIF) President Moosabba P. Beary Jokatte, Asif Deal and others were present.

 

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Dhemaji/Majuli/Sadiya (PTI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said different communities were living in harmony as the BJP was in power in the state.

Addressing back-to-back election rallies in Dhemaji, Majuli, Naoboicha and Sadiya, he accused the Congress of working only for 'Bangladeshi-Miyas', while ignoring the welfare of the indigenous population.

"We want to work for the people living in Assam -- the Assamese, Bengali and Hindi speaking people, Gorkhas, tribals, all communities. All the communities are in harmony because the BJP is in power," he said.

Sarma alleged that the Congress appeased 'Bangladeshi Miyas' when it was in power, while the BJP is working for the welfare of the indigenous community.

"You can see for yourself now that after the BJP came to power, the Bangladeshi-Miyas have been cut to size. During this term, we broke the hands and legs of the Bangladeshi-Miyas politically; next time we will break their backbone so that they cannot live peacefully in Assam," he said.

'Miya' is originally a pejorative term used for Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, and they are usually identified as immigrants from what is now Bangladesh. In recent years, activists from the community have started adopting the term as a gesture of defiance.

Sarma claimed that he is the first chief minister to have visited the river-island of Majuli at least 15 times.

"Development of Majuli started in 2016, when the BJP came to power in the state. Congress did not want to come here as they didn't want to solve the problems," he said.

The CM also took a jibe at the Congress's election slogan of 'Natun Bor Asom' (new greater Assam).

"We want our 'Bor Asom' on the ideals of Sankardev and Chaolung Sukapha, not a 'Natun Bor Asom' of Bangladeshi-Miyas," he said.

Elections for the 126-member assembly will be held on April 9, with counting of votes scheduled on May 4.