Karnataka: CM Siddaramaiah feted by Lingayats, says he admires Basavanna

Bengaluru: Making an all-out effort to woo the Lingayat community, Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah on Wednesday asserted that he was a staunch follower of the 12th century saint-poet Basaveshwara's teachings and therefore chose to be sworn in as CM on Basveshwara Jayanti in May, 2013.

He chose to drive home a point that he was not against any caste and was above caste prejudices and a champion of the cause to eliminate age-old blind beliefs.

Addressing a huge gathering at Palace Grounds after being felicitated by Akihil Bharat Veerashaiva Mahasabha, Siddaramaiah said, "I wa deeply attracted by Basava’s philosophy, therefore, I always strove hard to implement the philosophy in its true spirit. Be it schemes like Anna Bhagya, Ksheera Bhagya and other Bhagyas, they were evolved keeping everyone's interests in mind rather than focussing on any particular caste."

The CM rued that his political opponents were tarnishing his image by associating him with a particular community in spite of his efforts to design and execute welfare schemes for every poor man. "I am off the opinion that the state should not be victim of blind beliefs, which was the primary motto of Basava philosophy too," he said.