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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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
