Vote for progress of nation: Justice K S Beelagi

Voting is one of the best services that one can render to one's country, said Principal District and Sessions Judge Justice K S Beelagi.

He was speaking after inaugurating the National Voters' Day organised by the district administration and District Legal Services Authority at Town Hall in Mangaluru on Thursday.

"People's active participation in voting helps to build a stable government. People have the responsibility to elect the eligible. There is a saying that alms should not be given to the non-eligible. Similarly, votes are like alms which should be given to eligible persons only," he said and advised people to consider the character of the candidate while voting for him.

New voters should not repeat the mistakes done by their elders. Voters should not fall for any allurements, Justice Beelagi added.

Presiding over the programme, Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil said that this year's theme of National Voters' Day is "I am proud to be a voter; I am ready to vote". Voting gives us power to speak. As a growing democracy, India has high number of eligible voters, he said and added that the objective of the National Voters' Day is to include more and more youth in the electoral process.

Prizes were given away to those students who won various competitions on the occasion of National Voters' Day. Epic cards were distributed to first time voters on the occasion.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Kumar delivered the keynote address. Senior Civil Judge and District Legal Services Authority Member secretary Mallanagowda Patil, ZP CEO Dr M R Ravi, Assistant Commissioner A C Renuka Prasad, MCC Commissioner Muhammed Nazir, Government First Grade College, Car Street Principal Rajashekhar Hebbar were present.