Expressing grief over the death of Tontada Siddalinga Swami of Gadag Tontadarya Mutt, former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda said he was a model for other seers by his words and deeds.
Speaking to reporters at the airport on his way to Gadag, Mr. Gowda said his was a down-to-earth personality and he led a simple life shunning the comforts he was entitled to as head of a religious institution. He never sat on the silver throne donated by the Keladi kings for the heads of the mutt. He treated people of all walks of life and different castes and creed equally and also strived to eradicate anomalies in society.
Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who spoke to the reporters at the airport, also condoled the death of the seer and said it was a great personal loss for him. He said he had lost a great and erudite person who had guided him in taking up several steps benefiting the society as CM. Apart from offering suggestions to the government, he had openly praised several schemes and measures of the government that helped larger sections of society, he added.
