Rs 8 crore to make Belagavi resemble Mysuru during Dasara

NT Correspondent

Belagavi

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar disclosed that the State government would be shelling down Rs 8 crore to illuminate Belagavi on the occasion of the centenary celebrations of the 1924 Belagavi session. The occasion marks 100 years since Mahatma Gandhi took charge as All Indian Congress Committee (AICC) president and led the struggle for independence from the British. It will be a two-day programme to be held in Belagavi on December 26 and 27 after the winter session is concluded in the north Karnataka city. “We are illuminating Belagavi city at a cost of Rs 8 crore on the same lines as Mysuru during Dasara. It will be a historic moment. We are organizing awareness programmes for party workers in the Kittur-Karnataka region regarding the convention.

The people in charge must bring a minimum of 5,000 people from each Assembly constituency in this region and make this event a grand success,” Shivakumar said. He made the remarks at the Bharat Jodo Hall in Bengaluru on Saturday after holding a meeting on the upcoming programme. Earlier, Congress had revealed that 32 kilometres of Belagavi city would be illuminated by lights. Moreover, 30 main circles and roundabouts of the city will also wear an illuminated look. Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Company (CESC) had shelled out Rs 6.5 crore on the occasion of Dasara for Mysuru to wear an illuminated look. However, the same happens every year in Mysuru. CWC meeting also planned Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, confirmed that the Congress Working Committee (CWC) will also take place in Belagavi on December 26.

“We will hold the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on December 26 at the same place where Gandhiji took oath as the AICC President in Belagavi. Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, all members of CWC, Presidents of all PCCs (Pradesh Congress Committees), CLP (Congress Legislature Party) leaders, 150 MPs and AICC General Secretaries will participate in the convention. We will unveil a statue of Mahatma to mark the occasion. The CM will also hold a dinner for the dignitaries in the evening. The historic convention will take place at 11 am on December 27. We have delegated responsibilities in the last Cabinet meeting,” he said. “This is a programme of the party and the government. We have formed a committee comprising 60 people including HK Patil, Veerappa Moily, BL Shankar and others to finalize the modalities of the celebration,” Shivakumar said.

The KPCC president also called all Congressmen to come down and witness the historic centenary of the Belagavi convention. “In 1924, Mahatma Gandhi became the AICC President and assumed the leadership role in the Independence struggle. The Congressmen have an opportunity to celebrate this proud moment and all of you must make use of it,” he said,