Gandhiji's thoughts are inspiration for pro-people programs of Karnataka government: CM Siddaramaiah

Siddaramaiah said that Mahatma Gandhi's ideology is relevant for all times and his thoughts are the inspiration for the government's pro-people programmes.

According to an official statement, he was speaking at the Mahatma Gandhi Seva Award 2023 ceremony organized by the Department of Information and Public Relations on Monday.

During his tenure in 2014, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah instituted the Gandhi Seva Award, bestowed on individuals and organizations exemplifying Gandhiji's ideals.

He said, When I was Chief Minister in 2014, it was decided to award the Gandhi Seva Award on Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti and an order was issued to give this Award to individuals or organizations who walk the path of Gandhi Ji's ideals. Those eligible for the award should be believers in the principles of Gandhiji.

This year's recipient, Garaga Kshetriya Seva Sangh from Dharwad, was lauded for their commendable work in Khadi production and crafting the national flag.

He congratulated the recipient of the Mahatma Gandhi Seva Award and thanked the selection committee for the award.

Reflecting on Mahatma Gandhi's humble beginnings, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recounted Gandhiji's transformation from a lawyer facing discrimination in South Africa to the leader of India's freedom struggle. Embracing a frugal lifestyle, Gandhi traversed India in third-class train compartments, seeking to understand the social system and people's lives in India.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah underscored Gandhi's unwavering commitment to truth and non-violence in leading the fight for India's independence.

There was no difference in Gandhiji's words and actions. He led the freedom struggle by following the path of truth and non-violence. India is a country that walked on the path of non-violence to get freedom. Gandhi was a great humanitarian. By cultivating the nature of man's love for man, true respect is paid to Gandhiji. It was Rabindranath Tagore who gave him the title of Mahatma. Subhash Chandra Bose called him the Father of the Nation. He worked for peace and harmony in the country till the end of his life. But he died because of the fanaticism of Nathoram Godse. It is regrettable that there are people who worship Nathuram in this country. We should be aware of such people, the CM said.

Stressing the pivotal role of villages in India's progress, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah advocated for decentralized power structures.

India is a country of villages. The country can develop only with the independence of the villages. Small industries should come to our country instead of big industries and the power should go from village to Delhi and not from Delhi to village, he added.

CM further said that the Decentralization of power should be at four levels i.e., country, state, district, and village. Gandhiji's thoughts are the inspiration for our government's pro-people programs. He was deeply committed to women's freedom and empowerment of the women. The development of the country is possible with the development of women. The government has prioritized women's empowerment. The economic empowerment of women through the Shakti scheme and Grilahakshmi and Annabhagya schemes are based on Gandhian principles.

Today is Lal Bahadur Shastri's birth anniversary and it is being celebrated with great enthusiasm in the whole country. Lal Bahadur Shastri, the most honest politician India has ever seen, lived as a freedom fighter and a Gandhian, he said.

Earlier in the day, Siddaramaiah paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office in Bengaluru on the occasion of their birth anniversary.

CM said that both Gandhi and Shastri are role models adding that Gandhis model of development is still the greatest today while Shastri was an exemplary leader. (ANI)