The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘Balabrooie should be made a memorial’

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Sunday, Aug 10, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Balabrooie should be made a memorial’

Special Correspondent

Freedom fighters present memoranda to the Governor
Only 11,000 freedom fighters exist in State

BANGALORE: Governor Rameshwar Thakur received over 40 representations from many freedom fighters’ associations throughout the State at a tea organised at the Raj Bhavan here on Saturday to mark the Quit India anniversary.

As soon as Mr. Thakur arrived along with the Minister for Medical Education Ramachandra Gowda, the representatives of the freedom fighters associations submitted their respective memoranda.

Listening to the grievances of freedom fighters, Mr. Gowda said the Government would respond to their demands shortly.

The State unit of the Delhi-based All India Freedom Fighters’ Samiti has, in its memorandum, urged the Government to convert the historical Balabrooie guesthouse here into a freedom fighters’ memorial.

Samiti working president K.S. Rajappa told The Hindu that he had presented a memorandum even on the occasion of the 60th year of Independence with a similar demand to then Governor T.N. Chaturvedi. But the Government had not responded.

The Balabrooie had its own historical importance. Many leaders of the State such as late S. Nijalingappa, B.D. Jatti and D. Devaraj Urs lived there when they were Chief Ministers. Besides, many national leaders and poets, including Rabindranath Tagore, stayed in there during their visit to the State.

The BJP Government would consider the request, Mr. Rajappa said.

Explaining the problems being faced by freedom fighters in the State, particularly in Nanjangud taluk, Nanjangud Taluk Freedom Fighters Association president B. Srikantaiah and secretary P. Venkataswamy said they had requested the Government to issue special ration cards for the eligible freedom fighters in the below poverty line category.

Leader of the Tumkur-based Karnataka Rajya Swatantra Horatagaarara Kshemabhivriddhi Samiti G. Umapati Shastri, in his memorandum, has urged the Government to enhance the honorarium to Rs.5,000 on a par with the neighbouring States in the light of price rise.

The memorandum said that of the 24,000 freedom fighters in the State, only 11,300 were alive and 8,000 of them gasping for breath because of health problems. The Government should conduct health camps for them in each taluk, it said.

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