Bengaluru: Former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda is celebrating his 90th birthday on Wednesday May 18.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first among the senior leaders of the country to wish him.
“Birthday greetings to our former PM and respected statesman Shri H D Devegowda Ji. May Almighty bless him with a long and healthy life,” tweeted PM Modi.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also extended birthday wishes. “Heartiest birthday greetings to former Prime Minister Shri @H_D_Devegowda Ji. Your commitment towards promoting welfare of people is truly commendable. I pray to the Almighty for your healthy & long life,” he wrote.
The JD (S) leaders are holding several events across the state to mark the birthday of Deve Gowda, the supreme leader of the party.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai also extended birthday greetings to him and wished for his health and long life.
The Chief Minister called Deve Gowda over phone in the morning and wished for his health, wealth and long life. “May God bless you with health, wealth and long life to serve the State for a long time,” Bommai wished the veteran leader on his birthday.
H.D. Kumaraswamy, his son and former CM, stated that his father has always been a guiding force for him. His guidance is required for the state and the nation. Though he served as the PM for a short time he had given immense contribution for the state and the nation, he said.
Deve Gowda, an unquestionable leader of the dominant Vokkaliga community, is known as the son of the soil in Karnataka. He was the 11th Prime Minister of the country in 1996, four-time member of Lok Sabha between 1988 and 2019. He is presently a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha.
Born in 1993 in Haradanahalli village in Holesanarasipura taluk, Deve Gowda holds a diploma in civil engineering. He entered the state legislature as an independent MLA in 1962.
He was imprisoned in Bengaluru Central Jail during emergency in 1975.
Deve Gowda has six children – four sons and two daughters.
Inputs from IANS
