From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jan 30: Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi was a staunch ‘’Rama Bhakta’’ and loved the song, ‘’Raghupathy Raghava Rajaram,’’ said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after paying homage to Gandhiji by garlanding his portrait at Vidhana Soudha on his death anniversary on Tuesday.

‘’Mahatma Gandhi espoused the principle of equality, brotherhood and fraternity. He wanted people of all religions should live in harmony and peace. The concept of Rama Rajya was dear to him,’’ he said speaking to media persons after garlanding the photo of Gandhiji.

Siddaramaiah said Gandhiji was proceeding to his routine of Bhajan on January 30, 1948 after holding discussions with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Godse bent before Gandhiji to touch his feet and shot him. Even while breathing his last, Gandhiji uttered the words, ‘’Hey Ram.’’

The chief minister said India secured freedom due to the leadership of Gandhiji and others in the freedom struggle. While the entire country pays homage to Gandhiji and remembers him, there are people who venerate the communal Godse which is a tragedy, he said.

Answering questions from the media, he said the followers of Godse and his ideology were trying to create communal divide and spark communal clashes.

To a question on Mandya MP Sumalatha Ambarish blaming the Mandya district administration for the tense situation in the district, the chief minister said the Mandya district administration has done its duty to protect law and order and to maintain peace. Those who sought permission to erect flagpost to hoist the national flag and Kannada flag, have broken their undertaking and deliberately hoisted the saffron flag, which can never be permitted on government land, he said.

"This is nothing but a sinister design to make political gains by creating communal tension and the government will not allow such forces," he declared.

Responding to JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy’s call for observing a Mandya bandh on February 8, the chief minister said it is left to the people to observe bandh or not. "Normal life must go on and people cannot be held to ransom. Those who violated their own undertaking to hoist national flag or Kannada flag and hoisted the saffron flag must answer the people for breaking the promise," he said.

The Mandya district administration will maintain law and order and ensure that peace and harmony is not disrupted, he added.