Members of the HDMC pressurise the centre to confer Bharat Ratna for Shivakumara Swamiji

HUBBALLI: On Wednesday the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) had passed a resolution to pressurise the Centre to confer a Bharat Ratna for the pontiff Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Mutt, Tumakuru, as a recognition for his service towards the society.

At a condolence meeting which was held at the HDMC office, corporators, irrespective of their party affiliation, had urged the Union government to present the Bharat Ratna to Shivakumara Swami, who expired on Monday.

As the state has been mourning for three-days, the HDMC general body held a meeting which was turned into a condolence meeting before it was postponed.

Prakash Kyarakatti the Congress member and former mayor had said no one has done as much service as the seer for the upliftment of poor by providing education.

Subhash Shinde of Congress who had also said the seer must be given the Bharat Ratna. He added that the HDMC should pass a resolution regarding this and send it to the Union government. Former mayors Poorna Patil, Dr Pandurang Patil, Veerana Savadi, opposition leader Ganesh Tagargunti, Altaf Kittur and Deepa Gouri were recalling their experience at the Siddaganga Mutt and the service that was rendered by the late seer.