From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Aug 20: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee Chief D K Shivakumar paid homage to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and former Chief Minister Devaraj Urs to mark their birthday celebrations at the Congress Bhavan in Bengaluru on Saturday.

Shivakumar recalled the contributions and service of both leaders for the country and Karnataka and said the Congress party will remain grateful for both the stalwarts.

The KPCC Chief attacked the ruling BJP for claiming to have made a big achievement by neglecting India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and asserted that Nehru’s contribution for the country and his role in building a modern India can never be forgotten.

While Rajiv Gandhi was responsible for decentralisation of power through the Panchayat Raj Act and the Urban local bodies besides bringing in the telecom revolution in the country, while Devaraj Urs was instrumental in bringing the land reforms and distributing lands to 8 lakh poor people in the State besides encouraging backward classes, he said.

Shivakumar condemned the ruling BJP for its failure to hold BBMP elections for over two years on various pretexts because it is not confident of victory.

He also visited the government school run by BBMP at Chickpet, which is being sold to make money out of the property. He participated in the Vokkaliga community meeting at the Adichunchanagiri auditorium at Vijayanagar.