Rasheed Vitla

Bantwal, Jan 2: People who were waiting for the state health minister U T Khadar at the government hospital in Ajjinadka here were in for a suprise.

The minister had everyone gazing in amusement as he came to the venue driving his official car himself. His simplicity was appreciated by all.

Khadar was in Ajjinadka near Vittal on December 30 for the inauguration of the government hospital. Before that he went to meet his paternal uncle U T Moosa Kunhi at nearby Periyaltadka, where Khadar had incidentally spent his childhood days. Khadar after parking his car near his uncle's shop, was talking to the people he knew well. Marappa Shetty, Raghava Poojary and Vittal Rai, the old friends of his late father U T Fareed, and Moosa Kunhi were getting ready to go to the same inaugural event and Khadar offered them a lift. There was no space for all in Khadar's car. Still he managed to take them.

How did he do it? Khadar asked his driver Mohan and personal assistant Mohammed Libzat to get down from his car and come in another car. Then Khadar himself drove his official car. The senior people of his village were happy to be driven by Khadar.

Though U T Khadar is a minister, he has done so many things which are ordinary. He has helped accident victims by lending them his car and himself taking an auto, taken poor people in his car, eaten out in small roadside restaurants, played cricket with youth and hit sixes, and got admitted to government hospital when he was sick.

In Hassan in the past, Khadar had taken Sri Balagangadhara Swamiji's disciple in his car by driving himself. This was the first time Khadar did it in his home turf.