Date:13/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/13/stories/2006091322290500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Political parties told to focus on development, poverty alleviation

Special Correspondent

Minister stresses need for restoration of traditional values to end social conflicts

HELPING THE FARMER: Former ISRO Chairman K. Kasturirangan delivering a lecture during the 78th birthday celebrations of Union Minister of State for Planning M.V. Rajasekharan, in Bangalore on Tuesday. — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

BANGALORE: Senior political leader of the State and Union Minister of State for Planning M.V. Rajasekharan, whose 78th birthday was celebrated here on Tuesday, has called upon the political parties to focus on development through higher agricultural growth and poverty alleviation.

Responding to the felicitations at a function organised by a committee, he said social values were declining in all sections of society and stressed the need for restoration of traditional values to end social conflicts.

Mr. Rajasekharan first became a member of the Lok Sabha from the State in 1967. He is a former MLA and was heading an institution on rural development. Referring to the farming sector, he said millions of farmers contributed to food security, which in turn provided political stability in the country. On the border issue with Maharashtra, he said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had promised to render justice to the State.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, MPs from the State and a Congress delegation had met Dr. Manmohan Singh and submitted a memorandum seeking the Union Government's intervention to resolve the border issue, he said.

Activists of the Kannada Sene shouted slogans against the MPs of the State and asked Mr. Rajasekharan to clarify his stand on the Belgaum issue. Later, they walkout of the function held at Yavanika (State Youth Centre).

Earlier, the nominated member of the Rajya Sabha and former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation K. Kasturirangan spoke on "The Role of ISRO in the Development of Agriculture".

He called for technological convergence for accelerating farm growth. The agricultural sector was turning into a knowledge industry with proliferation of information technology and biotechnology, Dr. Kasturirangan said.

On space-based meteorology, he said that Indian weather satellites would continue to play a significant role in improving accuracy of weather forecasts, which were important for agricultural operations such as sowing, irrigation and pest control.

He said that space would continue to be a valuable tool to face the challenges of the current times and of the future in the field of agriculture, which accounted for nearly 65 per cent of the nation's employment and 30 per cent of the Gross Domestic Production. Former Cooperation Minister S.S. Patil MLA presided over the function.

Dr. Kasturirangan recalled his association with Mr. Rajasekharan and lauded his contributions in the field of agriculture.

Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister C.M. Udasi, H.T. Sangliana, MP, former Minister D.B. Chandre Gowda and others greeted Mr. Rajasekharan.