Centre can bestow Bharat Ratna on Shivakumar Swamiji instead of Savarkar, says Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru: Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday suggested that instead of Hindu Mahasabha leader Veer Savarkar, the Central government should bestow the Bharat Ratna on Lingayat seer Shivakumar Swamiji, who passed away in January this year.
The 111-year old seer, earned the fame of 'Walking God' was a philanthropist, educator and humanitarian. His personality and his works were revered worldwide.
"Whatever is the opinion of BJP (regarding Bharat Ratna to Savarkar), but I believe that instead of Savarkar, Bharat Ratna should be conferred on Shivakumar Swamiji," Siddaramaiah told reporters in Mysuru amid row over his remarks a few days ago that Savarkar was among the accused people in the Mahatma Gandhi assassination case.
The BJP unit of poll-bound Maharashtra has promised in its election manifesto to bestow the Bharat Ratna on Veer Savarkar posthumously, which triggered a nationwide debate.
Siddaramaiah reiterated that Savarkar was one of the accused in the Mahatma Gandhi assassination case. However, it is a different matter that he has been acquitted, the former chief minister added. "There was no need to give Bharat Ratna to him now.
We have been saying that the Bharat Ratna be given to Shivakumar Swamiji. Since he (Savarkar) was Hindutva proponent, we opposed it. Where's the controversy in it?" the Congress leader said.
As chief minister, Siddaramaiah had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2018 to bestow the country's highest civilian honour-Bharat Ratna- on Shivakumar Swamiji. However, no decision to this effect was taken by the Centre.
Stating that he himself is a Hindu and never opposed the Hindu ideology, the Congress stalwart said Savarkar, a Hindu Mahasabha leader was a proponent of Hindutva ideology.
Siddaramaiah said his opposition to Savarkar is mainly because he spread communalism through Hindutva. The former chief minister said the BJP was reacting strongly because he spoke the truth.
"What's the reason that people are protesting against me? Primarily because I am on the right side and I have uttered the truth," Siddaramaiah added.
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Maharashtra completes over 66 pc pre-SIR mapping; urban areas lag
Mumbai (PTI): Maharashtra has completed 66.42 per cent pre-Special Intensive Revision (SIR) mapping work, with Gadchiroli recording 90.51 per cent completion, the highest in the state, officials said on Tuesday.
Urban areas in Maharashtra are lagging in this exercise as Mumbai Suburban, Pune and Thane registered less than 50 per cent progress, they said, citing data from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO).
Fourteen districts have completed between 80 and 90 per cent of the mapping work, while 13 districts have achieved 70 to 80 per cent progress. Districts with lower progress include Mumbai city (51.40 per cent), Nagpur (55.57 per cent), Raigad (57.80 per cent) and Palghar (59.28 per cent).
"The urban areas are lagging in the pre-SIR work due to migration of population and an increase in the number of booths following population growth," the official said.
The districts in the 80 to 90 per cent category include Washim (80.76), Latur (80.77), Sangli (81.65), Amravati (81.90), Nandurbar (83.32), Nanded (84.06), Gondia (84.32), Dharashiv (84.62), Parbhani (85.27), Beed (85.31), Buldhana (85.97), Sindhudurg (86.47), Ratnagiri (86.70) and Hingoli (89.08).
As per the data, out of 9.88 crore voters, around 6.56 crore have been mapped so far. The pre-SIR exercise involves Block Level Officers checking the current electoral roll against the voter list prepared in 2002 by the Election Commission.
Names of current voters must be present in the 2002 list to pass scrutiny. Officials are currently matching the two electoral rolls, and this is not a physical verification exercise at present. Young voters, whose names are not in the 2002 list, will have to establish that their parents' names were included in that list.
"We are yet to receive the detailed programme for the physical phase of the SIR. Till then, we will continue mapping the electoral rolls. Until details of the ground exercise are announced, it would be premature to comment on deadlines or proof requirements. Our intention is to minimise inconvenience to voters," the official said.
