Padma Shri Saalumarada Thimmakka.
Credit: DH Photo/S K Dinesh
Belur: Padma Shri awardee and centenarian environmentalist Saalumarada Thimmakka has backed Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara, in the wake of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on his educational institutions, recently.
Speaking to media persons on Saturday at the residence of her adopted son Umesh in Balluru village of Belur taluk, Thimmakka said, “Parameshwara is a gentleman politician and not someone who would do anything wrong."
Thimmakka, the State government's environment ambassador, described as Vruksha Mate (mother of trees), said, "Parameshwara is a very helpful person. He never turns down those who seek his help. He is a prominent leader of Karnataka, and it is saddening to hear baseless allegations against him."
Umesh, stated, “It's a known fact that there has been a conspiracy against Parameshwara for many years, because they do not want a Dalit leader to reach the highest position in the State."
"Parameshwara is like an elder son to Thimmakka. If Thimmakka has lived so long, almost 116 years, Parameshwara is the reason. Law is equal for all. If anyone has done wrong, let there be an investigation against them," he said.
“When the ED officials raided the Siddhartha Education Institutions, in Tumakuru, Parameshwara stated that he would cooperate with the probe. Even then, some politicians are using this raid as a weapon against Parameshwara, misusing it politically," Umesh added.