Kumaraswamy bats for Bharat Ratna for Siddaganga seer
Bengaluru, Jan 31: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Thursday asked followers of Shivakumara Swamiji to play a major role for getting the Bharat Ratna conferred on the late Seer.
This is seen as a bid to woo the politically and numerically strong Lingayat community in Karnataka ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
"We honestly want to honour your sentiments. I am convinced that you will intensify your respect for Parama Pujya Swamiji and you will enable us to felicitate Swamiji with the Bharat Ratna..," Kumaraswamy said.
The 111-year-old seer, who was addressed as the "Walking God", died on January 21.
"Today, there have been some flaws in giving the Bharat Ratna awards but if you empower us with an opportunity, we will honour your wish by giving the award to the Swamiji," Kumaraswamy asserted.
The chief minister was addressing a huge gathering at Siddaganga Mutt at Tumkur during the 11th day ritual to mark the passing away of the seer.
Known for his philanthropy, the Swamiji turned his Siddaganga Mutt into a major education centre for students of underprivileged communities, built schools and hostels and started feeding hundreds of students free of cost, much before the mid-day meal programme was conceived by governments.
The seer's followers spread across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra demanded that the country's highest civilian award be conferred on him.
Harping on the public demand to honour the Swamiji with the Bharat Ratna, Kumaraswamy said "I am very confident that in all likelihood we will get the opportunity to give Bharat Ratna to the Swamiji in the next 6-7 months. I have conveyed the message subtly."
Kumaraswamy said during his previous stint as chief minister in 2006, he had written to the President to confer the award on the seer.
The chief minister told the audience that he honestly wanted to honour their sentiments.
Former chief minister Siddaramaiah also echoed Kumaraswamy's views.
He said the Swamiji was a "Vishwa Ratna" (a gem of the world).
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Bengaluru: Four arrested for housebreaking, threats, extortion; fake PSI among accused
Bengaluru: Vidyaranyapura police have arrested four persons, including a man posing as a Police Sub-Inspector (PSI), for allegedly breaking into a house, threatening the occupants, and extorting money while wearing police uniforms.
The arrested accused have been identified as Mallikarjuna, Pramod, Vinay, and Hrithik.
Police said the accused had hatched a plan to pose as police personnel, conduct fake raids, and extort money from residents by intimidation.
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According to the police, Mallikarjuna had failed the PSI examination twice and later falsely projected himself as a PSI. He allegedly conducted photo shoots in his hometown, Siraguppa, wearing a police uniform, baton, cap, and shoes, claiming to be serving as a PSI in Bengaluru.
On December 7, the four accused allegedly went to the house of Naveen in the Vidyaranyapura limits, threatened him with a stick and an iron rod, and claimed they had information that he was selling ganja. Under the pretext of searching, they allegedly extorted ₹87,000 through bank transfer, ₹53,000 in cash kept in the house, and ₹2,000 from his wallet.
Following Naveen’s complaint, Vidyaranyapura police registered a case and launched an operation, leading to the arrest of all four accused. Police have seized ₹45,000 in cash and the car used to commit the crime.
Further investigation is underway.
