Govt will help build community hall: Khader

District In-charge Minister U T Khader has said that the state government will help build a community hall if the Muslim Central Committee takes the initiative for its golden jubilee celebrations.

He was speaking after releasing the souvenir ‘Swarna Mahotsava Sambhrama’ during the celebrations of the Committee at the Town Hall on Saturday.

The Committee has been striving to restore communal harmony in the sensitive areas during clashes in the district, said the minister.

He admitted that criticism was common during social service. “The criticism should be taken as challenge to carry out work. The Committee should provide the government details on those who have lost jobs in the Gulf countries,” he added.

Ticket for LS polls

Committee President K S Mohammed Masood said a large number of members from the Muslim community are residing in Dakshina Kannada. “The Congress should issue ticket for a member of the Muslim community to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Dakshina Kannada. We are not begging the ticket – instead, we are demanding our right,” he insisted.

“An action committee demanding ticket for Muslim community member has been constituted. If the Congress fails to issue ticket for Muslim community member, then we will decide on the future course of action,” Masood stated.

Chief minister’s parliamentary secretary Ivan D'Souza said, "Talented youth from the community should be inducted into the mainstream. There is no need to question the patriotic fervour among the Muslim community members."

Former ministers B Ramanath Rai and Abhayachandra Jain, former Rajya Sabha member Ibrahim, former MLA J R Lobo and others were present.