K’taka for Bharat Ratna to Siddaganga Seer: Kumaraswamy

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday said his government will urge the Centre to confer posthumous Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, upon Siddaganga Mutt head pontiff Shivakumara Swami.

In a statement, Kumaraswamy recalled that his government had recommended that the Bharat Ratna be conferred upon him “Swamiji’s selfless services to mankind are replicable. Hence, once again, the government will urge Union government to confer him Bharat Ratna posthumously (sic),” Kumaraswamy said in a statement.

Shivakumara Swami’s services of providing food, shelter and education to the needy and poor was a model for everyone beyond the borders of region, language, caste and religion, Kumaraswamy said.

“Swamiji may not be with us any more physically, but service activities of this ‘Kayaka Yogi’ through this mutt are immortal. They will remain in our hearts forever. I offer my humble tributes to this trividha dasohi who lived his belief ‘Kayakave Kailasa’ (work is worship) till the end,” he said.

Kumaraswamy pointed out that Shivakumara Swami received the Karnataka Ratna award during his tenure as the chief minister. “I was fortunate to do so and will cherish that memory forever.”