Mangaluru : Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy inaugurated ‘Mangaluru Dasara’ by lighting the lamp in the presence of former MP and senior Congress leader Janardhana Poojary at Kudroli Gokarnatheshwara temple on Sunday, October 14.

Chief minister offered pooja to the idol of Goddess Sharade and sought blessings of Nava Durgas.

After inaugurating Mangaluru Dasara at the Kudroli Gokarnanatha Temple here, Kumaraswamy said Dakshina Kannada not only has people with sound economic condition but also families that find it difficult to get two meals a day. “I have personally seen the condition of poor families here. The condition of families of endosulfan victims too is very difficult,” he said.

He also said elected representatives should stay committed to the development of the district. He said senior Congress leader B. Janadhana Poojary was an example of how a politician should conduct himself and be devoted to the cause of the people.

Admitting that he and his family members were believers in God, Mr. Kumaraswamy said: “Despite all the advances we have made in science and technology, there is still a force above that controls all our actions. He is the one who protects us from disasters resulting from our actions harming the nature with our development projects.”

He had prayed before Gokarnanatha to end the difficulties of the people of the State and to help the residents of Kodagu overcome the trauma caused by the recent natural calamity there.

District in-charge minister U T Khader, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, South MLA Vedavyas Kamath, Bantwal MLA Rajesh Naik, MLC Harish Kumar, temple administrative committee president H S Sairam, treasurer Padmaraj, deputy commissioner Sasikanth Senthil, police commissioner T R Suresh and others were present.