Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the State government would urge the Centre to confer Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of the country, on the former Chief Minister S. Nijalingappa. The State government will also urge the Union government to install his statue on Parliament House premises.
“We will send a proposal in this connection to the Union government,” said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after offering floral tribute to Nijalingappa on the Vidhana Soudha premises on the occasion of his 115th birth anniversary.
“Nijalingappa was a towering leader. He contributed for the development of not only the State but also the nation. He needs to be acknowledged nationally,” the Chief Minister said.
He was responding to a memorandum submitted by the former legislator Vatal Nagaraj. He also said efforts would be made to change the statue of Nijalingappa on the Vidhana Soudha premises after Nagaraj pointed out that the statue does not resemble the late leader.
Nagaraj’s contention is that the late leader wore dhoti most of the times, while the statue depicts him in trousers.
