CM Siddaramaiah opens Barkur Mahasamsthana for Public
Udupi: The unveiling ceremony of Shree Barkur Mahasamsthana was held at Barkur on Friday, April 21.
The programme began with an invocation, Vakwadi Praveen Shetty director of the Samsthana welcomed the gathering.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated the programme by lighting the lamp. Earlier the Chief Minister officially inaugurated Shree Barkur Mahasamsthana by unveiling the plaque.
Addressing the gathering the Chief Minister said that our government upholds equality and social justice and claimed that his government was for “all” and not for any particular communities. The state government is committed to the welfare of all irrespective of caste, creed and religion. The progress of one caste will not help to bring equality in the society, he added.
“I never said I was an atheist, and it doesn’t mean that I visit temples every day. So, whenever I have spoken against certain things, some people have branded me as an atheist and said I was against religion and beliefs. I believe that God is everywhere and he is one, but I don’t believe that one can attain salvation by visiting God in Kashmir and other places”, said CM Siddaramaiah.
Equating the practice of untouchability with mental illness, he said, “There is a need to change such a mindset among the people with timely treatment”.
Siddaramaiah further said that social reformer Narayana Guru’s thoughts still hold relevance. He lauded him for striving to bring in changes in the social and religious set-up and also academics. Those were the times when casteism was at its peak in Kerala. Narayana Guru fought against all odds and emerged as a thinker and a visionary.
When the untouchables were not allowed to enter Temples in the God’s own country, he initiated the opening of temples for the oppressed classes.
Attempts to divide society in the name of religion or community should not be allowed. All citizens of the country are equal before the constitution. But a section of the people are trying to divide the society. Such attempts should not be allowed. Be human, respect other communities and religions, he added.
The chief minister presented Bhoothala Pandya awards to former Lokayukta Justice Santhosh Hegde; CMD Allcargo Logistics Mumbai, Shashi Kiran Shetty; President Billava Mahamandala Mumbai Jaya C Suvarna and Dr K Chinnappa Gowda Professor Kannada section Mangaluru University.
The chief minister also inaugurated the Arogya Bharathi and Vidya Bharathi, Health and Education schemes for the poor Bunt students on the occasion.
Sri Gurusiddaraja Yogindra Mahaswami of Moorusavira Math, Hubli, Vidyavachaspathi Sri Dr Vishwasanthosha Bharathi Swamiji of Barkur Mahasamsthana graced the occasion.
Raja Kerala Varma Empire family of Pandala Shabharimala, Pramod Madhwaraj district minister in-charge, Shakunthala Shetty parliamentary secretary for Chief Minister, Rudrappa Manappa Lamani minister for Muzarai, Vinay Kumar Sorake former minister and MLA Kaup, Maladi Ajith Kumar Rai Mangaluru, Sadananda Shetty, Barkur Sudhakar Shetty, Appanna Hegde, Shashikiran Shetty, Varadaraja Shetty and others were present.
