God, Buddha, Basavanna invoked during swearing-in ceremony

Maqsood Maniyar | NT

Bengaluru: Saturday’s swearingin ceremony of the chief minister, deputy chief minister and the council of ministers at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru saw invocations ranging from the almighty, a spiritual guru, a mother, Buddha and Basavanna.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah invoked God while administering his oath while Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar took the oath in the name of his spiritual mentor Gangadhar ‘Ajja’. Satish Jarkiholi, who has a reputation for being an outspoken humanist, invoked moral reformers Buddha and Basavanna, besides anti-caste icon BR Ambedkar. Zameer Ahmed invoked 'Allah' and his mother while taking the oath in English.

The rest of the ministers, namely, former deputy CM G Parameshwara, Karnataka Congress Campaign Committee chief MB Patil, Sarvagnanagar MLA KJ George, KPCC communications chairman Priyank Kharge and Devanahalli MLA KH Muniyappa invoked God as well. The KPCC working president Ramalinga Reddy didn’t invoke anyone in his oath.