Date:05/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/05/stories/2009010552380500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Kerala Kala Samithi celebrations conducted

Staff Reporter

TSR promises to take up the issue of more coaches for Kerala-bound trains

— Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

Festive spirit: Former Union Ministers P.J. Kurien and T. Subbarami Reddy arriving at the Kerala Kala Samithi’s Christmas and New Year celebrations in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.

VISAKHAPATNAM: Former Union Minister and Rajya Sabha member P.J. Kurien inaugurated the Christmas and New Year celebrations of Kerala Kala Samithi on Sunday.

He lauded the Samithi for celebrating the festivals cutting across religious barriers stating it was a reflection of the richness of the country.

Plea to Malayalees

He urged the Malayalees to integrate themselves with the people of Visakhapatnam. They should also start celebrating local festivals. People coming together was the message of Christmas and he complimented the Samithi for organising the function grandly. He congratulated Rajya Sabha member T. Subbarami Reddy for helping the community build a community hall.

Mr. Subbarami Reddy said he had sanctioned Rs.10 lakhs from his MP Local Area Development Fund to build a community hall. He offered to help make the journey to Kerala easier by taking up the issue of adding more compartments to Kerala-bound trains.