A host of leaders, including Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, State Ministers Jagadish Shettar and Basavaraj Bommai, and elected representatives gathered in Hubballi on Tuesday to pay tributes to BJP leader and former Union Minister Ananth Kumar on his first death anniversary.
In the programme, where a free health check-up camp was also simultaneously held in which hundreds of people were screened, chosen for free cataract operation, and medicines distributed and blood grouping done, the speakers recalled the humane nature of the late leader, whom they said played a crucial role in building the Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka.
The speakers described him as a mentor, great orator, a good friend, and a large-hearted man.
Large- and Medium-Scale Industry Minister Mr. Shettar said it was because of Ananth Kumar he entered politics leaving behind his profession as an advocate. “I can say that Ananth Kumar is my guru in politics,” he said,and recalled incidents that led to his entry into politics as a BJP candidate for Hubballi Rural constituency in 1994, which he subsequently won. Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines Mr. Joshi, a friend of Ananth Kumar from childhood, recalled the commitment of the late leader towards building the BJP, even when joining the party was mocked at.
Recalling his long association with Ananth Kumar, Mr. Joshi listed several anecdotes that revealed Ananth Kumar’s large heartedness, his will to fight against odds, and commitment to do good to the last citizen.
His “bench-mate” and Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai remembered how the “fighter” in Ananth Kumar resulted in his arrest during the Emergency and because of which he had to spend a year in prison.
Mr. Bommai said Ananth Kumar was the one who was committed towards developing Bengaluru and also the north Karnataka region. Even leaders from other parties miss his presence in Delhi now. Along with his wife, Tejaswini, Ananth Kumar did a great job in terms of environment conservation, he said.
Ministers for Mines and Geology C.C. Patil, Ms. Tejaswini, Arvind Bellad, Shankar Patil Munenakoppa, Amruth Desai, and others paid floral tributes to the late leader and recalled his contributions.
Guru Rajayogindra Mahaswami of Moorusavir Math also spoke. A large number of people paid floral tributes to Ananth Kumar.
Health camp
During the health camp, 1,256 Ayushman Bharat cards were issued and 500 people underwent eye check-up. Of these people, 43 were chosen for further eye check-up and surgeries. During the camp, 500 people underwent general medical check-up and were given free medicines. Blood grouping was also done and 22 people donated blood.
