From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jun 6: After the hectic electioneering work for almost two months, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday took time to speak on the need for regular physical and mental activity and also stressed the need for regular health check-ups to avoid falling sick.

Speaking after inaugurating a free health check-up and treatment camp for all government officers and staff in the Vidhana Soudha secretariat, he said: “I do prayanayama and physical exercises constantly.”

Siddaramaiah took time to speak on maintaining good health. “Lifestyle and food habits are adversely affecting human health,” said.

Quit Smoking

The Chief Minister confessed: “I used to smoke cigarettes daily. I was a chain smoker. My friends gifted me a pack of foreign cigarettes. I smoked more cigarettes in a short period of time.”

“But I was convinced to quit smoking and decided to give it up completely on August 27 years ago. Since then, I have stopped smoking altogether,” he said adding: “Addictions can happen due to various factors, including peer pressure. We must always be vigilant and protect ourselves.”

He said the state government is constantly designing and implementing programmes to provide health and necessary treatment to all sections of the people.

“Even serious diseases like cancer can be cured. It is possible to maintain health for a long time if health check-ups are done regularly,” he said.

The Chief Minister said the health system and hard-working lifestyle of our ancestors had kept them healthy and strong.

He instructed the officials that such health check-up camps should be organised on a regular basis and conducted all over the state.

“Caring for good health from an early age to avoid the health problems that come with old age,” he said.

Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, Chief Secretary Dr Rajneesh Goel, Chief Minister's Political Secretary Naseer Ahmed, Guarantee Implementation Committee Chairman H M Revanna, Chief Whip Ashok Pattan, Additional Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh were present.

Trying to follow path of Urs

Earlier, the Chief Minister paid floral tributes to former Chief Minister Devaraj Urs on his 42nd death anniversary and described him as a “pioneer of social justice.”

Siddaramaiah said Devaraj Urs tried to bring change in this state as a prominent leader of Congress party. Our government is also trying to follow his path. He was a secular leader and this is our tribute to him, he said.

During his tenure as Chief Minister, Urs implemented many popular schemes. He tried to uplift the downtrodden by uplifting them economically, socially and politically. He established the Havanur Commission and implemented reservation for the backward classes in the field of education and employment.

Mysore State was renamed as Karnataka in 1973 after Karnataka Ekikarana Movement. This year on the occasion of its 50th anniversary celebrations are being held in the entire state.

Devaraja Urs was a leader who stood for the poor, the oppressed, and for social justice. That is why we call him a pioneer of social justice. He said that the credit of implementing the Land Reforms Act and declaring that the tiller is the owner goes to him, he said and asserted that Congress party alone stands for social justice.

Later, he told reporters that he has spoken to Scheduled Tribes Welfare Minister B Nagendra and parried questions on the minister’s resignation. "Let us see, I have spoken to him,” he added.