Deve Gowda had prominent role in solving Karnataka’s problems: Former CM Bommai

BENGALURU: Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda has played a big role in addressing the problems of Karnataka and everyone is proud of him as he has been the first Kannadiga to hoist the Kannada flag atop the Red Fort, said former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

Speaking after releasing a book, ‘Mannina Maga’, written by B Ramalingashetty on the former P M Deve Gowda here on Thursday, he said the book, seen by him and by the Kannada Sahitya Parishad, has focused on the history of irrigation and agriculture of Karnataka as well of the social life.

Despite writing a number of books on Deve Gowda, there is scope to write more books due to his vast life, he said. “His life has touched upon everything and it was more special and surprising also. Without bothering about his position, Deve Gowda fought. It was surprising that his inspiration was much higher than his reputation”, Bommai said.

ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳನ್ನು ಬಗೆ ಹರಿಸುವಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾಜಿ ಪ್ರಧಾನಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಹೆಚ್‌. ಡಿ. ದೇವೇಗೌಡರ ಅವರ ಪಾತ್ರ ದೊಡ್ಡದು. ಕನ್ನಡದ ಬಾವುಟವನ್ನು ದೆಹಲಿಯ ಕೆಂಪು ಕೋಟೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಹಾರಿಸಿದ ಏಕೈಕ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗ @H_D_Devegowda ಅವರು, ಅವರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ನಮಗೆ ಹೆಮ್ಮೆ ಇದೆ.

ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಪರಿಷತ್ತಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಏರ್ಪಡಿಸಿದ್ದ ಮಾಜಿ ಪ್ರಧಾನಿ ದೇವೇಗೌಡರ ಕುರಿತು ಶ್ರೀ… pic.twitter.com/46a73qDxSW

— Basavaraj S Bommai (@BSBommai) February 29, 2024

“I got the opportunity of working with him and seen his days in and out of power. I am very lucky as I am more close with him than H D Kumaraswamy”. Comparing Deve Gowda’s personality with that of Karnataka in Mahabharat, the former CM said out of his 60 years in politics he has been in power only for five to six years and rest of the time he fought for the sake of the state and nation.

On the one hand, he had the rare quality of accepting the challenge and on the other hand, worked as a voice for farmers who worked in fields. He served as the Leader of the Opposition at a very young age and shook the government with just 24 MLAs. After coming to power, Deve Gowda served as irrigation minister but still, he regrets that the state didn’t give more importance to irrigation as like other states. Deve Gowda has held a day-long meeting regarding the Upper Krishna projects, Bommai noted.

“Now also, there was the problem of land acquisition. He ensured the speedy completion of the Narayanpura canal construction. In politics, there were people who didn’t want things to get done and some of them had demanded a probe against him. Deve Gowda had referred it to the CBI and later the party that had demanded investigation has withdrawn its complaint. When Deve Gowda became the PM, he released more funds for the UKP schemes under AIBP. He had been successful in bringing 9 tmcft of the Cauvery water to Bengaluru”, Bommai said.

The BJP leader said when Deve Gowda was the CM, there was a report in the newspaper about the power scarcity in the state and he was in Delhi at that time. From Delhi, he went to Mumbai, met Balasaheb Thackeray and explained the situation.

Thackeray got the Maharashtra order cancelled and allowed power supply to Karnataka. He used his political connections for the betterment of the state. He had got officials to resolve the Idgah Maidan row of Hubballi by sending him to that place. He made the Anjuman-e-Islam to hoist the national flag.

Bommai also lauded the services of Dr C N Manjunath, former director, of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology and Vascular Sciences for saving the lives of many. “Dr Manjunath would have been rich had he wanted, but he won the love and affection of people”, Bommai said.

Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji of Adichunchanagiri Mutt, KSP President Dr Mahesh Joshi, Hampa Nagarajaiah, Leeladevi R.Prasad, Kannada Rakshana Vedike President T A Narayanagowda, former chairman of the Legislative Council V R Sudharshan and Ramalingashetty were present. (ANI)