From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Oct 23: In the midst of his campaign for the BJP candidates in Hangal and Sindgi assembly constituencies going to by-election on October 31, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai paid homage to the statues of Kittur Rani Channamma and Dr B R Ambedkar in Hubballi on Saturday.

Addressing a public meeting after garlanding the statue of Kittur Rani Channamma in Hubballi, the Chief Minister recalled the big struggle behind the installation of the statue in Belagavi city and said he was fortunate to have created the Kittur Rani Channamma Development Authority in 2011 when he was the minister earlier and sanction a grant of Rs 8 crore.

The Chief Minister also garlanded the statue of Dr B R Ambedkar in Hangal town.

The Chief Minister recalled that his father late S R Bommai had taken the bold decision of installing the Kittur Rani Channamma statue in Belagavi and announced that the action plan for Rs 50 crore prepared by the Kittur Rani Channamma Development Authority would be approved. A grant of Rs 50 crore would be released for the Authority this year, he said.

Bommai lauded the role played by Kittur Rani Channamma in waging a battle against the British and hailed her as one of the most valiant pioneers of the freedom movement in the country. The role and fame of Kittur Rani Channamma is not confined to Belagavi but extends to the entire State.

The State Government will do everything possible to realise the dreams and aspirations of Kittur Rani Channamma as well as Sangolli Rayanna.

Large and Medium Industries Minister Murugesh R Nirani, Minister Shankar Patil Munenakoppa, MLA Raju Gowda and other BJP leaders accompanied the Chief Minister.