Kundapur, Aug 6: A one day programme was organized by Kundapur Kharvikari Vidyaranga Mitra Mandali in the Venkatramna Arcade at Girija Auditorium here recently after being awarded the state-level award for the year 2005-06, instituted by Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK) and Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy.

Speaking on the occasion, Eric Ozario, president of Karnataka Konkani Academy said that it was his desire that a Kharvi should manage affairs of the academy for the next five years so that the existing notion that the academy chair was the prerogative of the dominating communities like Christians and GSBs were given the chance.

Konkani is a conglomeration of communities including Kharvis whose mother tongue is Konkani. It has been found out by a recent research that there are 31 Konkani speaking groups.

The Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy cannot ignore the contributions made by the Kharvi community to the Konkani language, culture and literature, he added.

Haladi Srinivas Shetty, MLA of Kundapur, presiding over the function praised the achievements made by the mandali in the last 36 years. Raviraj Kharvi, secretary, made an introductory speech. Sadananda Kharvi monitored the programme.

Earlier a grand procession was arranged carrying the trophy and the certificate award won by the Vidyaranga Mitra Mandali.

Earlier in the day, delivering the key note speech during the panel discussion on "Harmony and Sustainable Living with Nature", His Holiness pointed out that the seed of aggravating terrorism and the seed of deteriorating ecosystem is nothing but the diminishing of human heart and vanishing of the human value system.
 
His Holiness highlighted the message of the Vedas that "live like a guest in this world, use minimum and give maximum".  He further recalled  the famous non-violence message from India through Bhagavan Buddha to the whole world.  The Pontiff called on the worldwide delegates to preserve global environment by promoting green revolution.  He also appreciated Japan, being the country to receive the sunlight first, has all credentials to stand first for achieving this task and protecting the mother earth.

The 2 days event of the Religious Leaders Summit was held in Kyoto International Conference Hall and attended by large number of religious leaders from nooks and corners of the world represeneting all releigions and several countries.  The several dignitaries who participated in the summitt included, Hon. Joseph Verner Reed, Under Secretary general of United Nations, Mr. Nichio Niwano, president of Japanese Chapter of WCRP, Kojun Handa, Honorary President of the Japan Conference of Religious Representatives,  Dr. Abdallah Al-Lihadan, Asst Vice Minster for Islamic Affairs of Soudi Arabia, Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, the Founder President of Sarvodaya movement, Sri Lanka, Rev. Monsignor Felix Machado, Under Secretary, Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Vatican City, Mr. Davolin Bradanovic, the Director of Community Garden in Bosnia, and Mr. Tamijiro Yoshida, President of World Peace Bell Association.

To mark this historical event, the World Peace Bell was rang in presence of all religious leaders and to show the global involvement for this holy purpose thousands of young peace workers filled the magnificiant glass globe with white and blue bird replicas after big marathon to the Hiei Hills.
 
His Holiness Sri Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji was received by Om Prakash, The Indian Councilor General in Japan.

Udupi, Aug 3: Big Bazaar, the leading discount hypermarket in the country, already having its one outlet in Mangalore city, made its entry into Udupi District by opening its first outlet near Taluk Office in the heart of Udupi city, today Aug 3, 2007.

Big Bazaar the most successful Hyper Market, first of its kind in the entire Udupi District was inaugurated today at 6pm by the local MLA Mr. Raghupathi Bhat.

The Manager of Big Bazaar, Udupi Unit Mr. Shri Moorty speaking to Team Mangalorean  stated that 104 staff members employed by the bazaar were undergoing training in sales and customer service, from last two months and are fully equipped to meet the demand and taste of Udupi customers. The bazaar will provide the shoppers with A to Z items with more than one lakh range of products under one roof at competitive wallet-friendly prices, he said. He further added that the bazaar has more plans to expand its operations in other cities in the state.

The two-level store located in the center of the city was fully packed with more than 20 thousand visitors with the swelling crowd covering every inch of the store on the first day itself. Heavy rainfall did not deter the people of Udupi from visiting the store on its inaugural day.

The D.C of Udupi District Mr. Punnu Raj, the Superindent of Police (SP) Dr. Subramanya Rao and the builder Mr. Ballal were present at the opening ceremony. 

Kundapur, July 30: Under the leadership of C.P.I (M) of Kundapura Taluk Committee a protest rally was held near Shastri Circle condemning the recent firing on farmers in Andhra Pradesh resulting in the death of Eight and in serious injuries caused to several other participants in a protest rally few day back.

Responding to the call made by the Central party the workers of the C.P.I (M) all over the country condemned the state Government of Andhra Pradesh for its high handed policy of encouraging the agricultural land grabbers at the cost of Government lands left undistributed in Thousands of acres to the landless farmers and laborers in the state.

Addressing the party workers the Taluk secretary Shri Mahabala Voderhobli and the party leader Shri U, Dasa Bhandary also spoke. Several other leaders and the activists of different Social Organization also participated in the rally organized by the C.P.I (M) of Kundapur Taluk Unit.

Byndoor, Jul 29: The tense situation prevailed in the periphery of Ottinene on Monday Jul 30 morning, after ore-laden truck drivers went on rampage by torching a weigh-bridge on Sunday, which forced the police to resort to caning.

They were protesting against the deputy commissioner's order restricting movement of heavy trucks in the district. They complained that thousands of trucks have been struck all over the route and the drivers had neither food nor water for over two days.

More than 300 truck drivers have been arrested in this regard. while 71 were shifted to Mangalore sub jail, 41 were shifted to Belgaum .  The rest of the truck drivers were locked up in a makeshift confinement centre in Byndoor Higher Primary School.  The cases are being registered under sec 143, 148 and 324 without bail for damaging  property.  State transport minister Cheluvarayaswamy is likely to visit the spot on Monday Jul 30.
 
The situation seems to be under control at Ottinene, but like cinders still smouldering. Truck drivers from Hubli reportedly indulged in the rampage.

The office-bearers of Hubli Truck Owners Association are likely to arrive in Ottinene on Monday Jul 30.  They were disturbed over the arrest of the truck drivers who are in no way related to the incidents.  They have alleged that their truck drivers were imprisoned in order to settle old score, instead of taking action against the real culprits, who seemed to have gone scotfree.  

Widespread anguish has been expressed over the actions of Udupi deputy commissioner Ponnuraj.  Despite the incidents having  taken place on Sunday July 29 at 11-00 am, he reportedly visited the spot only at 9-00 pm, said the drivers'  representatives. 

The truck drivers and cleaners have completely destroyed the weigh-bridge located at Ottinene in Byndoor  besides the computers, while the traffic of ore laden trucks was stalled till the operation of weigh-bridge was restored, stated deputy commissioner Ponnuraj.

The truck drivers are distressed since the traffic of ore laden trucks was stalled, as a result of the official order. Several traffic bottlenecks seems to have been prevailing on National Highway. Over 2000 trucks are estimated to have been stranded in the queue. The number may have touched 3000 by Monday Jul 30 morning, said sources.  The trucks remained stranded as the drivers have been put behind bars. 

Kundapur Tahsildar Arun Prabha, DySP Rajaram, CDIB inspector C E Timmaiah, B P Dinesh Kumar, Byndoor SI Cheluvaraju, Gangolli SI B M Timmaraju, Kundapur SI Jayanthand many other senior police officers are camping at the site.

Heavy security:  Security has been beefed up while companies of  BSRP and Special Task Force have been deployed at the site, an apprehension of retaliatory attack from other truck drivers who have absconded.

SI Ramesh Kumar and his team along with finger print experts have expressed their confidence in arresting the culprits at the earliest.