The Hindu : Karnataka News : Rich tributes paid to Veerappa, Venkatagiri Gowda

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 21, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Rich tributes paid to Veerappa, Venkatagiri Gowda

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, JULY 20. The Legislative Assembly today said that the State had lost two public figures known for their forthrightness and idealism in the passing away of the BJP member of the Lok Sabha, Ramachandra Veerappa, and the former MP and well-known economist, K. Venkatagiri Gowda.

Ramachandra Veerappa, the oldest member of the Lok Sabha, passed away on Sunday. He was also an MLC during 1956-57 and MLA during 1957-62 and 1983-85. Venkatagiri Gowda was a BJP member of the Lok Sabha from Bangalore South during 1991-96.

The Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, commended the services of the two to the State. Veerappa was immensely popular had been imprisoned during the freedom struggle, he said.

The Leader of the Opposition, B.S. Yediyurappa, said Ramachandra Veerappa was a household name in the Hyderabad Karnataka region.

The Kannada Chaluvaligar member, Vatal Nagaraj, suggested the installation of a statue of Veerappa in his home town, Humnabad. He had suffered during the freedom movement and till the end a bullet fired at him during an agitation for freedom remained embedded in his body.

The Industries Minister, P.G.R. Sindhia, said that both Ramachandra Veerappa and Venkatagiri Gowda were ideal persons who were known for their straight talk. He suggested that an institution in Bidar district be named after Veerappa, who won elections on the basis on his popularity, spending little. Mr. Sindhia said it was unfortunate that there were not many economists such as Venkatagiri Gowda to guide the administrators today.

Gurupadappa Nagamarapalli (Congress) said that the death of Ramachandra Veerappa was a big loss for Bidar district. He was an institution by himself and stood above party politics. He was immensely popular and the people voted for him irrespective of the party he represented. Veerappa hardly campaigned in the seven elections to the Lok Sabha that he won.

G.V. Srirama Reddy (CPI-M) said that Venkatagiri Gowda was an economist in the Keynesian mould. Prime Ministers such as Indira Gandhi had heeded his advice.

Araga Jnanendra (BJP) wanted the publication of a book on Ramachandra Veerappa.

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