BENGALURU, 3 FEB

BJP and JD(S) leaders of State on Saturday welcomed the Centre's decision to confer Bharat Ratna on veteran BJP leader LK Advani while Congress demanded to award the highest civilian honour posthumously on Siddaganga Mutt seer Shivakumara Swami.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said they do not oppose the Centre's decision of conferring Advani with Bharat Ratna. “But I had written a letter requesting to bestow Bharat Ratna award to Tumakuru Siddhagangaswamy,” he said.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said, “We welcome the government’s decision to award senior leader Lal Krishna Advani but we wrote a letter requesting to bestow Bharat Ratna posthumously to Siddhagangaswamy. He was known for carrying out Annadasoha (serving food to the poor for free) throughout the State and he should be awarded.”

Shivakumara Swami died at the age of 111 in January 2019 at his mutt in Tumakuru.

The Opposition in the State hailed the Centre’s decision. Leader of Opposition R Ashoka recalled his memories with Advani during his Ratha Yatra in the State. “I thank the Central government on behalf of all Kannadigas. Advani is the reason for the installation of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. He is an ideal personality and never compromised on principles and ideology,” he said.

Senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa said: “If there is a Ram temple today in Ayodhya, then it is because of Lal Krishna Advani. He was present when Babri Masjid was demolished.”

Former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai congratulated Advani and called him the real son of the soil. “He united the people of the country through the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation. Thanks to his efforts, Ram Mandir, a dream of millions of people, has become a reality. He strengthened the internal security of the nation and made Bharat a strong nation,” Bommai said.

JD(S) leader and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy thanked the Central government for recognising a high-distinction person like Advani for the award. “Advani is an inspiration to all, embodying loyalty, commitment, friendliness and hard work in Indian politics. I extend my best wishes to him,” he added.

Pejavar Math seer Vishwa Prasanna Teertha in Udupi lauded the government's move. He called Advani a representative of value-based politics who maintained the dignity of the offices he held. Vishwa Prasanna Teertha said Advani had led the Ayodhya Ram temple movement in the early 1990s, which finally culminated in the temple coming up there, he added.

Nobody else as deserving as Shivakumara Swami: Surjewala

Karnataka Congress incharge Randeep Surjewala has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to award Bharat Ratna posthumously to Siddaganga Mutt seer Shivakumara Swami.

“Siddaganga Mutt Seer Sri Sri Sri Shivakumara Swamiji is truly deserving of the posthumous Bharat Ratna. Nobody else is as deserving as him for his service. He should have been awarded this earlier. He has fed, cared for and educated millions of children for free for decades. He is a role model to all Indians,” Surjewala said in a statement.

The seer has served millions of people and offered ‘Trividha Dasoha’ (three forms of charity) with no expectations. “The Sri treated all as one, educated millions and ensured that many who didn’t have a chance before were given the chance to be upstanding citizens,” he added.

Calling the seer a walking god, Surjewala said: “The centurion seer was known as the god who walks among his devotees. His service is one that God has surely appreciated. When the mutt was low on funds, the Sri himself begged for alms so he could continue the education and serve food for all.”

Giving Bharat Ratna to the seer is a demand of 6.5 crore Indians. “This precious gift to humanity is once in a lifetime and I know all the 6.5 crore Kannadigas stand by me when I request this,” Surjewala said.