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Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah garlanded the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, at SVP Chowk in Kalaburagi on the occasion of Kalyana Karnataka Utsav on Tuesday.
"On this important occasion of Kalyana Karnataka Amrut Mahotsav and the 10th anniversary of giving special status to Kalyana Karnataka under Article 371(J), I extend heartfelt greetings to everyone. I feel honoured to hoist the national flag on this special day. It strengthens our commitment to the development of this region," said the CM while addressing the event at Police Parade Ground in Kalaburagi. "This year, we had good rainfall in this region, and our farmers are happy. Nature has blessed us. Though India gained independence in 1947, the districts of Bidar, Kalaburagi, and Raichur, under the rule of the Nizam of Hyderabad, experienced freedom only a year later. Kalyana Karnataka joined India due to the sacrifices of many freedom fighters, the vision of Jawaharlal Nehru, and the strength of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. I pay respect to all the great people who fought for the liberation of Kalyana Karnataka, " the CM paid tribute to freedom fighters. He highlighted that Kalyana Karnataka showed the way to equality and social justice when other parts of the country struggled with caste and gender inequality, adding to that he said, "This land has made significant contributions to Kannada language, literature, culture, art, and religion. The Sharana movement, led by Basavanna, laid a strong foundation for social change and democratic governance. Our government follows Basavanna's teachings and has declared him a global leader. Kalyana Karnataka is the land of Amoghavarsha Nrupatunga, who gave us the first Kannada literary work, 'Kavirajamarga'. This region is also known for promoting harmony among different religions." The CM further emphasised that movements such as Mysore Chalo and the Hyderabad liberation movement were the manifestation of people's aspirations for democratic rule. "The Sharana movement, which began in Basavakalyan, united people from different regions who believed in equality. Even today, it inspires those who stand for equal rights. Leaders like Raja Venkatappa Naik of Surapura, who fought against the British, will always be remembered in history. Kalyana Karnataka played a significant role in the freedom struggle. Two regions that initially refused to join India were Mysuru and Hyderabad. Mysore rulers accepted the people's aspirations and agreed to join the Union of India. But the Kalyana Karnataka region was liberated after huge sacrifices," he added. Stating that the people of Karnataka must never forget the struggles endured in the past, he said, "The Kalyana Karnataka has fought four important battles: the Indian freedom struggle, the liberation from Nizam's rule, the unification of Kannada-speaking regions, and the fight for Article 371(J) to grant special status." (ANI)
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