Karnataka - Gulbarga   

`Minister thwarted Deve Gowda's participation in utsav'

Special Correspondent

He was advised against inaugurating it by Mr. Dharshanapur, says JD(S) leader

GULBARGA: Janata Dal (Secular) leader Vittal Heroor on Friday accused Agriculture Marketing Minister Sharanabasappa Dharshanapur of sabotaging efforts to invite former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda to inaugurate the Jayanthi Utsav of the 12th century social reformer Ambigara Chowdaiah, a contemporary of Basaveshwara, at temple town of Deval Gangapur in Afzalpur taluk in Gulbarga on April 8.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Heroor said vested interests who were opposed to his growth in the party had ganged up gainst him to sully his image and thwart moves to unite the Kabbaligas in the State and fight for their rights. He said Mr. Deve Gowda had agreed to visit Deval Gangapur on April 8 to inaugurate the utsav but cancelled his visit on the advice of Mr. Dharshanapur.

Rumours

He said that the vested interests were also spreading rumours that the proposed valedictory function of the Jayanthi Utsav in Bangalore on May 20 at the National College Grounds had been cancelled to create confusion among people.

Mr. Heroor said the valedictory function of the utsav was going ahead as scheduled.

Inauguration

It would be inaugurated by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Mr. Deve Gowda would garland the portrait of Ambigara Chowdaiah. Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa would unfurl the flag and other Ministers in the Cabinet of Mr. Kumaraswamy would participate, he added.

In reply to a question, Mr. Heroor said he had thought of joining forces with former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and joining the Congress party, but in the last minute he gave up the move after he was promised a post of Minister in the Kumaraswamy Cabinet. Mr. Heroor said that he was willing to join any political party that gave him power and importance to his community.

He said a memorandum listing out the demands of the Kabbaliga community.

The demands included establishment of Ambigara Chowdaiah chair in all the Universities, translating the revolutionary vachanas penned by Chowdaiah in all the Indian languages, installing the statues of Ambigara Chowdaiah in all the district headquarters, and conceding the long pending demand for inclusion of Kabbaligas in the Scheduled Tribe list. They would be presented to the Chief Minister and Mr. Deve Gowda during the valedictory function.

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