Former AIADMK leader Sasikala learning Kannada in jail
Bengaluru, Oct 25: Former AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala, who is presently undergoing a jail term at the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison here, is learning Kannada at the jail school, prison sources said.
Sasikala, who was the close confidante of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, has even expressed desire to learn Kannada at a higher level, the sources said.
"She has learnt Kannada alphabets now......
She may apply for higher level of learning. She has learnt a little bit for now from the Kannada school at the female barracks in the prison," a prison official told PTI.
He said Sasikala could speak a little bit of Kannada now.
Meanwhile, a senior Bangalore University official said they have received Sasikala's application from jail for a certificate course in Kannada.
"We have received her application from the jail, for a certificate course in Kannada. It is a one year course," Dr B C Mylarappa, Director of Correspondence Courses & Distance Education of Bangalore University told PTI.
He said the course would commence shortly at the end of which there would be exams.
The classes would be conducted at the jail.
Sasikala, who took over the reins of AIADMK after the death of Jayalalithaa in December 2016, was later removed from the party by Chief Minister K Palaniswami-led camp.
Sasikala has been lodged in the Parapana Agrahara central jail since February 2017 after the Supreme Court upheld her conviction by a special court in a disproportionate assets case.
Her relatives Ilavarasi and V.N Sudhakaran are also serving a four-year jail term in the case.
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Veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa laid to rest with full state honours
Bengaluru (PTI): Veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa was laid to rest with full state honours on Monday.
The 94-year-old former minister, who passed away at a private hospital in Bengaluru on Sunday, was cremated at the Kalleshwara Mill premises, following Veerashaiva-Lingayat traditions.
Earlier in the day, Shivashankarappa's mortal remains were brought to his native Davanagere, where they were kept at the high school grounds for the public, his followers, and well-wishers to pay their last respects.
ALSO READ: Karnataka Speaker U T Khader condoles death of Shamanur Shivashankarappa
Expressing deep sorrow over his demise, the Karnataka government ordered that his last rites be performed with full state honours.
Both the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Council also mourned his passing, adjourning their sessions for the day after paying tributes.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa, several ministers, opposition leaders, legislators, and political figures paid their respects.
A number of seers from the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community also attended the last rites.
Shivashankarappa represented the Davanagere South Assembly constituency. He had been undergoing treatment at the hospital for some time before succumbing to age-related ailments.
The senior-most legislator in Karnataka, Shivashankarappa, was also one of the longest-serving lawmakers in the country, sources said.
He is survived by three sons, including S S Mallikarjun, the Karnataka Minister for Mines, Geology, and Horticulture, and four daughters. His daughter-in-law, Prabha Mallikarjun, is the Member of Parliament from Davanagere.
A six-time MLA, Shivashankarappa also served as a minister and an MP.
He was a prominent educationist, establishing several educational institutions, and was an industrialist.
Additionally, he served as the treasurer of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) for decades and was the president of the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha, the apex body of the influential Veerashaiva-Lingayat community.
