From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Oct 2: Khadi and village industries development will be given emphasis and special programmes to ensure the objective will be chalked up, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said in Bengaluru on Saturday.

He was speaking after conferring Gandhi Seva awards and Gandhi Jayanti celebrations jointly organised by the State Information and Public Relations Department, Gandhi Memorial Fund and other organisations at the Gandhi Bhavan.

“Gandhiji is not just an individual or merely a freedom fighter. He is a force capable of building moral India,’’ he said.

The Chief Minister said all citizens need to rededicate themselves to work and serve the country to enable it to emerge on the top of the world. “It is lamentable that we see lack of civic responsibility all around. If we work with responsibility and do well in whatever we do, it is a big tribute to Mahatma Gandhi,’’ he said.

Bommai said Gandhiji gave importance to people engaging in productive activities and the economy improves when all discharge their duties and work sincerely. It is the same principle that Basavanna propounded when he said ‘work is worship’ (kayakavekailasa), he said pointing out that Gandhiji’s biggest strength was transformation and truth.

The Chief Minister said the State Government has taken up a programme of constructing Gandhi Bhavans in all districts. The Gandhi Bhavans are ready for inauguration in Shivamogga and Ballari districts while work is in progress in other districts too, he said.

Former minister and Congress leader H K Patil, Justice Ashok B Hinchageri, Ministers Govinda M Karjol, Halappa Achar, BJP MP Shivakumar Udasi, Dr L Hanumanthaiyya and others participated in the function.

Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in front of Vidhana Soudha to mark his 153rd birthday and also the 117th birthday of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.