City gets ready for Sonia Gandhi’s third visit

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, October 17, 2012: Security has been beefed up and other arrangements have been made for the visit of AICC President Sonia Gandhi to Mangalore on Oct 18, Thursday.

The district administration, the police department, and the SPG forces have thoroughly inspected the venue. Several meetings have already been held to discuss security arrangements and senior police officers have directed the police department to see that the security is topnotch. Gopal Hosur, IGP for intelligence, has personally inspected the venue, and CRP and RAF personnel will be deployed.

This is Sonia Gandhi’s third visit to the coastal city, and Congress workers and leaders are busy making the required arrangements. They have put up hoardings welcoming Mrs. Gandhi along the streets of Mangalore. A large stage has been built on Nehru Maidan, and Mrs. Gandhi will address a huge crowd of over 20,000 Congress workers from the twin districts from this stage.

Union ministers S. M. Krishna, M. Veerappa Moily, Siddaramaiah, and K. H. Muniyappa; opposition leaders of the legislative assembly; KPCC President Dr. G. Parameshwar; former ministers B. Janardhan Poojary and Oscar Fernandes; senior leaders Madhusudhan Mistri and Mallikarjun Kharge; and many others are expected to take part in the convention.

Mrs. Gandhi will land at Mangalore International Airport at 4:00 p.m., after which she will come directly to Nehru Maidan to take part in the convention at 4:30 p.m.

A committee comprising Kallige Taranath Shetty, P. V. Mohan, Ivan D’Souza, Oscar Fernandes, Shashihar Hegde, and others has been formed to oversee preparations for Sonia Gandhi’s visit.

District Congress President B. Ramanath Rai said that rooms have been booked in Mangalore’s best lodges for the senior leaders participating in the convention. As many as 500 volunteers and Seva Dal workers will personally attend to the requirements of participants.

The volunteers have already arranged 1,500 chairs, drinking water facilities, fire service, ambulance, and parking facilities. Ivan D’Souza announced that those arriving at the venue in private vehicles can park in Milagres, Rosario, Taluk Panchayat, and St. Ann’s.