Bengaluru: A few days back, when he was alive, the government had sent a proposal requesting the Centre to confer Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award on Dr Shivakumar Swamiji of Siddaganga Matha.
On Monday, minutes after he breathed his last in the matha in Tumakuru, leaders cutting across party lines once again urged the Centre to confer the Bharat Ratna on the Swamiji.
Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy while condoling his death, urged the Centre to confer the highest civilian award on him. Considering the service he had rendered to lakhs of people cutting across caste and community, he should be given the award, the CM stressed.
Not to be left behind, BJP state unit president B.S. Yeddyurappa too urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take a decision in this regard. "Through his service, he inspired lakhs of his devotees throughout his life. He lived with the principle, ‘my life is my message. Considering his service to mankind, I would like to request the prime minister to announce the Centre’s decision to confer Bharat Ratna on him.”
Deputy chief minister, Dr G. Parameshwar too echoed the same sentiment. Congress party campaign committee chairman, H.K. Patil said in his message, "Whether he is conferred the award or not, for us the swamiji is Bharat Ratna."
Several common people too joined their leaders to request the Centre to confer the award on the Swamiji.
Meanwhile, a senior bureaucrat who worked in the home department, told Deccan Chronicle that the norms fixed for Bharat Ratna do not cover spiritual leaders. So it may be difficult for the government to confer the Bharat Ratna on him. It may open a Pandora’s Box as devotees of many other religious leaders may start demanding the conferring of the civilian award on their gurus, he said.
A few days back, when he was alive, the government had sent a proposal requesting the Centre to confer Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award on Dr Shivakumar Swamiji of Siddaganga Matha.
On Monday, minutes after he breathed his last in the matha in Tumakuru, leaders cutting across party lines once again urged the Centre to confer the Bharat Ratna on the Swamiji.
Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy while condoling his death, urged the Centre to confer the highest civilian award on him. Considering the service he had rendered to lakhs of people cutting across caste and community, he should be given the award, the CM stressed.
Not to be left behind, BJP state unit president B.S. Yeddyurappa too urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take a decision in this regard. "Through his service, he inspired lakhs of his devotees throughout his life. He lived with the principle, ‘my life is my message. Considering his service to mankind, I would like to request the prime minister to announce the Centre’s decision to confer Bharat Ratna on him.”
Deputy chief minister, Dr G. Parameshwar too echoed the same sentiment. Congress party campaign committee chairman, H.K. Patil said in his message, "Whether he is conferred the award or not, for us the swamiji is Bharat Ratna."
Several common people too joined their leaders to request the Centre to confer the award on the Swamiji.
Meanwhile, a senior bureaucrat who worked in the home department, told Deccan Chronicle that the norms fixed for Bharat Ratna do not cover spiritual leaders. So it may be difficult for the government to confer the Bharat Ratna on him. It may open a Pandora’s Box as devotees of many other religious leaders may start demanding the conferring of the civilian award on their gurus, he said.
