Tibetan Spiritual leader the Dalai Lama today dedicated S Nijalingappa Memorial, built in memory of former Karnataka Chief Minister, at Seebar village about seven kms away from here.
The spiritual leader showered encomiums on Mr. Nijaligappa for his simplicity and helping hand given for rehabilitation of thousands of Tibetans in Karnataka during 1956 when he was the Chief Minister.
“When I contacted the then Prime Minister pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, he asked me to meet Mr. Nijalingappa”.
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“Mr. Nijalingappa helped thousands of Tibetans to get food and shelter. I cannot forget this gesture”, the Dalai Lama said going down the memory lane.
The spiritual leader also recalled the simplicity of Mr. Nijalingappa remarking “I still remember it. Once I met him and during our discussion, Mr. Nijalingappa said he is a servant of people“.
Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa described Mr. Nijalingappa as a man of “clean hand” and promised to provide Rs five crore budgetary allocation for further development of the memorial on which about Rs 3.25 crore has already been spent.
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Union Minister for Labour and Employment M Mallikarjun Kharge and opposition Congress Leader in the State assembly Siddaramaiah recalled the services rendered by Nijalingappa to the State and the nation.