*MLA Urges Christians To Join Hands In Village Development* *By SAR NEWS*
*BELGAUM, Karnataka (SAR NEWS) -- *The foundation stone for the new building of St. Theresa Church was laid September 20 at Dhamane village, 12 km from Belgaum City. Belgaum South MLA, Abhaykumar Patil, laid the first stone in the presence of Bishop Peter Machado of Belgaum. Speaking at the ceremony, Patil said an elected member of the state legislative Assembly became the representative of all the people of that particular constituency. “After getting elected, the people’s representatives should leave behind politics, party, caste and religion and should work for the overall development of all the people, keeping aside differences,” he asserted. Patil urged the people of Dhamane to come forward and join hands with him for the development of the village. Dhamane village has a strong presence of the Catholic community, predominantly the Goans who have settled there since the last three centuries. While adjusting with the local culture and traditions, the community has managed to preserve the Konkani language and culture and is engaged in the farming of the famous Belgaum Basumati rice.
