From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Nov 14: The chief minister Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar along with other cabinet ministers paid glowing tributes to India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on his 134th birth anniversary by garlanding his statue in front of Vidhana Soudha and later participated in a party function at the KPCC office on Tuesday.
Speaking on the occasion, CM Siddaramaiah said, “Nehru realised and appreciated the rich cultural and historical heritage of the country and laid the foundation for building a modern India.” The deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar said “The institution of five-year planning and establishing modern scientific and industrial institutions was Nehru’s greatest legacy for independent India.”
The chief minister further stated, “Inculcating scientific temperament and the values of socialism and secularism were the hallmarks of Nehru and pointed out that the people of older and younger generations are reaping the fruits of Nehru’s foresight and modern bent of mind.”
“The very fact that India has emerged as the fifth largest economy in the world and the existence of several pre-eminent institutions as well as the country’s space programmes are the greatest contribution of India.” Siddaramaiah on pointing out said Nehru had spent nine years in jail and sacrificed a lot for the country.
He said “Nehru was the most democratic person and would also respect the opposition leaders.”
Later, speaking to media persons, the chief minister lashed out at JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy for levelling baseless charges against the Congress guarantees and said the JD(S) leader is unable to tolerate the success of the guarantees and the very fact that over 1 crore have already availed of the Shakti free bus travel in government buses.
After joining the BJP-led NDA, Siddaramaiah said, “The JD(S) leader wants to prove his loyalty to BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi by levelling baseless allegations against the Congress government, which were nothing but pure jealousy.
The deputy chief minister D K Shivkumar, senior Congress leader B K Hariprasad, chief minister’s political secretaries Govindaraju, Naseer Ahmed and KPPC working president Saleem Ahmed and others were present.