From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Aug 20: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday paid glowing tributes to former Karnataka Chief Minister D Devaraj Urs and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, hailing them as persons with great minds, who envisioned social justice, future of India and bright future of society.

Speaking at the 108th birth anniversary of Devaraj Urs, hailed as the architect of social justice and land reforms who implemented the concept of land to the tillers, and also conferring the Devaraj Urs Award on veteran Congress leader Kagodu Thimmappa, the chief minister said all those who benefitted from the revolutionary programmes implemented by Devaraj Urs must emulate his model of fighting for social justice and fight for the rights of the deprived.

Siddaramaiah said Karnataka has the illustrious example of stalwarts of social reform like Basavanna to Krishnaraja Wodeyar and Devaraj Urs, who had always worked for providing social justice.

The land of Karnataka has a history of revolutionary implementation of social justice. The aspiration that power and wealth should not be in the hands of a few has been rooted in this land since the time of Basavanna, he said observing that Devaraja Urs implemented and Kagodu Thimmappa fought that the tiller should be the owner of the land.

The beneficiaries of Kagodu and Tenancy or Geni movement and the young men and women of the present generation should understand all this. He said that they should stand for social justice.

He said although there was a provision for reservation in the constitution, it was not implemented. Devaraja Urs as Chief Minister showed courage to implement the L G Havanur report. While doing so, Urs took all the caste and communities into confidence.

He explained that by this reservation which was a constitutional right was implemented in Karnataka.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Backward Classes Welfare Minister Shivraj S Thangadagi, Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa, MLA Gopalakrishna Belur, Nagaraja Yadav, Backward Classes Commission Chairman Jayaprakash Hegde were present.

'Rajiv Gandhi unleashed youth power'

The Chief Minister said former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi laid down his life like his mother Indira Gandhi did for protecting the integrity and building the future of India. While Rajiv Gandhi equipped Indians to face the challenges of the 21st Century, Devaraj Urs made it possible for backward classes and people from deprived casts unable to even dream of visiting Vidhana Soudha to become legislators and ministers.

Addressing the birth anniversary functions of Rajiv Gandhi and Devaraj Urs at the KPCC office, the Chief Minister said Rajiv Gandhi was a visionary leader, who reduced the voting age to 18 years and enabled the youth to take part in shaping the future of the country and take up the great responsibility of strengthening the democratic system.

It was Rajiv Gandhi who opened the doors of participation for the youth and representatives of all castes and classes in all the fronts of the country. Decentralization was implemented for the purpose.
Rajiv Gandhi amended the constitution and introduced reservation in local bodies and was the first to expand the opportunity for women's political representation on a large scale, he said.

"All women in politics today should remember Rajiv Gandhi. Every woman of the country should understand that 50% reservation for women was made possible by him as he revolutionized information technology and internet system in India. He had great dreams and programs of building a grand India and creating a society of social justice," he said.

Siddaramaiah said Rajiv Gandhi was martyred while he was implementing these programmes and was buried in the soil of this land. His death has been documented a sacrifice, he said.

"It is only the Congress that has the history of struggle, sacrificing and attaining martyrdom for the country and the integrity of the country. BJP or the Sangh Parivar does not have this kind of history. The BJP has expertise at making grand speeches. BJP and Sangh Parivar have no role in the nation building process. He said that the country cannot be built with speeches alone," he said.

He said Devaraja Urs had an unyielding devotion for providing justice to even the most marginalized people in the society. He abolished the system of carrying human excreta and abolished the system of bonded labour. He formed the Havanur Commission to provide reservation for backward communities. He enforced the land reform act of cultivator is the landowner.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, ministers K J George, Madhu Bangarappa, Bose Raj, Chief Whip of Legislative Council Saleem Ahmed, MLCs B K Hariprasad, former minister H M Revanna and other dignitaries were present.