From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jan 23: Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwara lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not attending the funeral of the 111-year-old Shri Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Mutt, who was laid to rest at Tumakuru on Tuesday.
Dr Parameshwara, in a sarcastic comment said, Modi had time to attend “celebrity weddings” but not the funeral of the 111-year-old sage, who was revered as `‘the Walking God.’’
It is surprising that Modi claims at his public meetings that the 111-year-old Seer had ``treated him like a son’’ whenever he visited the Mutt and yet he could pay his last respects to the Swamiji on his demise.
In a tweet on Wednesday, Dr Parameshwara said State government’s repeated requests to the Centre for conferring the BharataRatna on the seer had gone in vain.
He tweeted: "PM Modi attends celebrity weddings, meets movie stars but skips the funeral of our NaDedaduvaDevaru, who dedicated his life to help the poor and the marginalised.”
The Deputy Chief Minister also took a dig at Modi over the Philip Kotler award, which had generated much controversy a few days when Opposition parties had questioned the authenticity of the award.
Dr Parameshwara said: “Truly well-deserved recipient of Kotler Award.”
However, the BJP MP PratapSimha wanted to know if the Congress President Rahul Gandhi and former Congress President Sonia Gandhi attended the funeral of the Seer.