Chief Minister Siddaramaiah speaking at the Suttur Jathra Mahotsava, in Suttur on Friday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said in Suttur on Friday that the teachings and values of the 12th century social reformer Basaveshwara, were also reflected in the Constitution which was for establishing an egalitarian society with equal rights for all.

He was speaking after taking part in the Suttur Jathra Mahotsava in Nanjangud taluk of Mysuru district. The Chief Minister visited the Mahadeshwara temple in Suttur and offered special prayers and later addressed the public.

He said the main objective of the Constitution was to establish a secular and an egalitarian society and Basavanna also advocated a casteless and egalitarian society.

He said those following the tenets of Basavanna should realise this aspect and eschew casteism, religious differences and strive to eliminate the scourge of superstition and caste discrimination.

Mr. Siddaramaiah said the country had only secured political freedom but it was yet to enjoy economic freedom or establish social equality as envisaged in the Constitution.

Even B.R. Ambedkar had echoed the same view in the Constituent Assembly and it was valid even in the present times, he added.

Mr. Siddaramaiah rued that though it was over 850 years since Basavanna preached equality of mankind, people had not eschewed the habit of practising casteism or had not desisted from questioning caste background of individuals.

He also lamented that educated people believed in the concept of fate and attributed it to past karmas. The Constitution recognised the individuals on the basis of their merit and talent and not caste and the need of the hour was to ensure that people from the lower socio-economic background, were not deprived of opportunities, said Mr. Siddaramaiah.

He praised the contribution of Suttur Mutt in the field of education and Dasoha. In this context the Chief Minister lashed out that at those critical of the guarantee schemes and the Anna Bhagya scheme and said it would benefit the poor. “Only those who have not worked hard in life but have fattened themselves at others’ expense, are opposed to it,” he remarked.

He also hit out at the BJP, saying that their leaders were opposed to the guarantee schemes of the Congress but were now replicating it in the States ruled by them.

Suttur Mutt seer Shivaratri Deshikendra Swami, Ministers H.K.Patil and H.C.Mahadevappa were present.