From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bangalore, Jan 7: Former Union Minister and senior leader of the Lingayat community M Rajashekara Murthy and several other former legislators, who passed away recently, were accorded rich tributes in both houses of Karnataka Legislature on Friday.
In a special gesture, both the houses of the state legislature paid homage to 31 people who died on December 14 near Nanjangud off Mysore when the tempo in which they travelling on their return journey after attending a marriage party fell into a lake.
Starting with the Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and several senior cabinet ministers and members cutting across party lines in both the assembly and the council mourned the deaths of the deceased and observed a minute’s silence.
The assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah moved a obituary reference and condoled the death of K M Krishnamurthy, four time MLA; Rajashekar Murthy, former MLA and MP, K S Bilagi, Ashwathanarayana Reddy, former Ministers; former legislators B L Subbamma, J L Kabade, Kogali Karibasavanagouda, S B Madanlal, Padmabhushan Puttaraja Gavai, musical genius; K Sridhar Achar, journalist; and B S Ranga, Kannada film director and producer.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S Suresh Kumar, Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah, JD(S) Legislature Party leader H D Revanna, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Jagadish Shettar, T B Jayachandra, H C Mahadevappa, N L Narendra Babu of Congress, Chandrakanth Bellada of BJP, C S Puttaraju of JD(S) spoke and recalled contributions of leaders in various fields.
The members, who participated in the discussion, urged the government to take immediate steps to construct barricades across all major rivers and lakes, if they abutted the state or national highways and other major roads, as also near all roads involving sharp curves to avoid serious accidents. In the legislative council, the condolence resolution was moved by the chairman D H Shankaramurthy while higher education minister and leader of the house Dr V S Acharya spoke on behalf of the government.
Dr Acharya said Ganayogi Puttaraja Gavai, a visually challenged person, who could play on ten instruments was a rare genius and most talented person while Rajashekara Murthy was known for his deft and efficient handling of the state finances.