Political leaders pay tributes

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, DEC. 12. A large number of people visited "Amma", the residence of the deceased former Chief Minister, Mr. J.H. Patel, in RMV New Extension here, to pay their last respects.

Among the visitors were the Governor, Ms. V.S. Rama Devi; the Chief Minister, Mr. S.M. Krishna; the former Vice-President, Mr. B.D. Jatti, and the Union Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes.

The former prime minister, Mr. H.D. Deve Gowda; the Janata Dal (S) President and former deputy chief minister, Mr. Siddaramaiah; the former chief minister, Mr. Ramakrishna Hegde; the Home Minister, Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge; the Minister for Major and Medium Irrigation, Mr. H.K. Patil; the Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Mr. H. Vishwanath; the former ministers, Messrs P.G.R. Sindhia, M.M. Nabi, S.S. Patil, C. Byre Gowda and Bachche Gowda; the Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha leader, Mr. Vatal Nagaraj, and Mr. P. Ramiah, MLC, also paid their last respects to Mr. Patel.

Condolences: In her condolence message, the Governor said "the State has lost a great Socialist and a leader with a mass following". He was liberal in his thoughts and attitudes and was forthright in expressing his views, Ms. Rama Devi said.

The Chief Minister, Mr. S.M. Krishna, in his message said: "Late Mr. J.H. Patel was a tall leader, known for Socialist principles and commitment in public life." Mr. Patel strove for the betterment of Karnataka as a legislator, member of Parliament, minister, deputy chief minister and chief minister. Mr. Patel's concern for the Scheduled Castes and women was noteworthy, Mr. Krishna said.

Mr. Fernandes, who was associated with Mr. Patel for the past three decades, said he and Mr. Patel had participated in a number socio-political movements and agitations. The death of Mr. Patel was a personal loss. The former minister and MLC, Mr. M.P. Prakash, said that in the death of Mr. Patel the State had lost a senior socialist leader who was known for his political wit and humane attitude.

Mr. Sindhia, who was a minister in the Patel Cabinet said that in Mr. Patel's death what had been lost was a vibrant and dynamic political attitude underlined by ideological conviction, and simplicity. The noted writer, Dr. U.R. Ananthamurthy, recalled his four-decade association with Mr. Patel and said the former chief minister had never resorted to "ugly political tricks". Mr. Vatal Nagaraj said Mr. Patel was the only colourful personality of his kind that the State's politics had seen.

The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Mr. M.V. Venkatappa; the acting Chairman of the Legislative Council, Mr. David Simeon; the JD(U) leader, Mr. S.R. Bommai; Mr. B.L. Shankar, Mr. Anant Nag, Mr. B.S. Yediyurappa and Mukhyamantri Chandru (MLCs); the Mayor, Ms. Prema Cariappa; the former mayor, Mr. M. Ramachandrappa; the Commissioner of Police, Mr. T. Madiyal; the Chief Secretary, Mr. B.K. Bhattacharya; and the former Director and Inspector-General of Police, Mr. T. Srinivasulu, paid their tributes to Mr. Patel.

The KPCC(I) President, Mr. V.S. Koujalgi recalled Mr. Patel's unflinching faith in Socialism and said his services to the State were unforgettable.

The BJP State unit President, Mr. Basavaraj Patil Sedam, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Jagadish Shettar will attend the funeral ceremony at Kariganur tomorrow.

Senior State BJP leaders said in Mr. Patel's death the State had lost a mature politician known for his political acumen and efficiency.

The Union ministers, Mr. Anant Kumar and Mr. Dhanajaya Kumar; and the BJP leaders, Messrs K.S. Eshwarappa, Sadananda Gowda, D.H. Shankara Murthy, Shivayogi Swami, Aravind Limbavali, Ramachandra Gowda, Katta Subramanya Naidu and Ms. Vimala Gowda, expressed their condolences.

Mr. K.H. Srinivas, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, said Mr. Patel was committed to socialist ideology till the end.

Among others who mourned Mr. Patel's death were Mr. G. Puttaswamy Gowda, MP; the ministers, Messrs R.V. Deshpande, Qamar-ul-Islam, Dharam Singh, A.B. Maalakaraddy, M. Mallikarjun Nagappa, A.M. Hindasgeri, M. Mahadev, V. Muniyappa, D.B. Chandre Gowda, T.B. Jayachandra, V. Muniyappa, B.K. Chandrashekar, R. Roshan Baig, A. Krishnappa, S.S. Mallikarjun, Ms. Rani Satish and Ms. Nafees Fazal.

Mr. Basavaraj Bommai, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council; Mr. Ramalinga Reddy, MLA; Mr. D.B. Kalmankar, former Chairman of the Legislative Council; and Mr. I.M. Jayaram Shetty, former MP; expressed their condolences to Mr. Patel's family.

The Mayor, Ms. Prema Cariappa and leaders of the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike also expressed their condolences.

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