Bharat Ratna: Centre flayed for not considering seer

The leaders of various political parties including the BJP have expressed their disappointment over the Centre not conferring Bharat Ratna award on Siddaganga Mutt seer, the late Shivakumara Swami.

BJP legislator Basanagouda Patil Yatnal has vented his ire against the Union ministers from Karnataka for their “failure” in this regard. “I don’t know what these ministers are doing in this regard. We should stage a protest if the Centre does not accede to the demand for conferring Bharat Ratna on Siddaganga seer,” Yatnal said in Vijayapura on Saturday.

Welcoming the award for former president Pranab Mukherjee, Minister Satish Jarkiholi said that the Centre should consider the seer for the award at least next year.

BJP leader and former chief minister Jagadish Shettar said that he was very disappointed over denial of award to the seer. He said he would bring more pressure on the Cente in this regard.

“We should not beg for the award. The government should recognise the achievements of the seer and select him for Bharat Ratna” MLC Basavaraj Horatti said.

Speaking to mediapersons in Kalaburagi, Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge said that several elected representatives and organisations had urged the Centre to confer Bharat Ratna on Siddaganga seer and it was disappointing that the request has not been granted. “The seer has set an example by his mass feeding and free education programmes. It is painful that the Centre has neglected his contributions,” Kharge said.