From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Feb 27: Former Karnataka Chief Minister and State BJP President B S Yeddyurappa turned 74 on Monday and the occasion was marked by the launch of a series of welfare programmes for the people.
Even as party leaders, well-wishers and a large number of people called on him at his residence to extend their birthday greetings, Yeddyurappa took time off to participate in the de-silting of Bellavi Lake in Tumakuru district.
BJP cadre throughout the State launched a wide range of service activities such as blood donation, sapling of plants, distribution of fruits and milk in hospitals, distribution of cheques to the members of the family of the farmers who had committed suicide, supplying fodder to goshalas, providing clothes to poor people, distribution of blankets to lepers apart from de-silting of tanks and lakes in their respective taluks.
According to reports reaching the State headquarters, work was initiated in more than 100 taluks for de-silting of lakes and party workers visited about 70 hospitals at the district and taluk level to distribute fruits and milk while about 100 goshalas were provided with fodder spread across 90 taluks.
The wide range of welfare programmes and different kind of services that were offered by the BJP workers and Yeddyurappa’s supporters in different taluks of almost all districts throughout the State is claimed to be record for marking the birthday of their beloved leader.
In Arkalgud taluk, BJP State General Secretary ShobhaKarandlaje and hundreds of local BJP workers organised a programme where cheques were distributed to the members of the farmers who had committed suicide.
At the same time, the Hassan district BJP workers visited the house of Sandeep, the Army soldier who died in avalancheat Devihalli and provided Rs 1 lakh to the members of the family.
In Shikaripur, the home taluk of the State BJP President, five new goshalas were started in different parts of the taluk besides de-silting of the Anjanapura Lake.
While about 20,000 people had gathered at Sri Siddaganga Mutt and wished Shri Yeddyurappa, about 5000 people were present at Bellavi Lake for the de-silting of the lake.
At his residence in Dollars Colony in Bengaluru, a huge crowd of more than 3500 people called on him personally and extended their warm greetings.
Speaking to the party workers and admirers, the BJP State President appealed to intensify their service activities to bring relief to the people who are suffering from the unprecedented drought.
"The state government has utterly failed to provide succour to the people. We cannot afford to remain silent. We have to rise to the occasion,” the BJP leader said.
Udupi
In Udupi, Yeddyurappa's birthday was celebrated by the district BJP under the leadership of BJP district president Mattar Rathnaker Hegde. Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji and junior swamiji Sri Vishwaprasanna fed fodder to cows, performed cow worship, and prayed for the wellbring of the former chief minister.
District BJP president Mattar Rathnaker Hegde said that considering severe drought in the state, Yeddyurappa has asked the party workers to celebrate the birthday in a meaningful manner. "Therefore, it is being held in a meaningful way by feeding the cows," he said.
Former MLA K Raghupati Bhat, district BJP chief secretary Koilady Suresh Nayak, Yashpal Suvarna, vice-president Baikady Suprasad Shetty, spokesman Katapady Shanker Poojary, state BJP Mahila Morcha vice-president Geethanjali Suvarna, district secretary Praveen Kumar Shetty Kappettu, city BJP president Prabhakar Poojary, Yuva Morcha district president Shreesha Nayak, Yuva Morcha district chief secretary Girish M Anchan, SC Morcha district president Hemanth Kumar Udyavar, Mahila Morcha district president Nayana Ganesh, Mahila Morcha district chief secretary Veena S Shetty, Rashmitha Balakrishna Shetty, Mahila Morcha city president Rajani Hebbar, Leela Ameen, Rama Y Shetty and others were present.