Former union minister V Sreenivasprasad was a great human being: CM

Mysuru, NT Bureau: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday described that former union minister V Srinivasprasad was a great human being, swabhimani, always advocated principles of Dr B R Ambedkar throughout his life.

He was speaking at the condolence meeting of former Union minister and former BJP MP V Srinivasa Prasad organized by Dr B R Ambedkar Education and Cultural Trust, Samanathe, Swabhimana- Swavalambane Foundation and Samanathe Publications held behind silk factory circle on Manandavadi road in the city.

He said that V Sreenivasprasd who always followed the principles of Buddha, Basavaanna and Ambedkar, committed to the protection of the constitution, fought for social justice without compromising his ideologies in whichever political parties he represented.

CM who recalled his nearly five decades of association with V Sreenivasprasad said that they were with Janata Party including former minister P G R Sindhia when he started his political journey during 1970s- 80s.

Though he and V Sreenivasprasad were in different political parties, criticized him on various occasions, but both have maintained good friendship beyond politics.

As Prasad was a swabhimani, he immediately was taking political decisions whenever his self respect hurt him. I heard that V Sreenivasprasad expressed that his self respect was hurt which made him announce his political retirement in his last days.

Even when I called him after his announcement of retirement from politics at his residence, Sreenivasprasad did not discuss politics with him though he spent half an hour with him, requesting support from Congress.

But he led a meaningful life, he said. BJP parliamentary board member and Former chief minister B S Yediyurappa said that though V Sreenivasprasad defected to different political parties but he never compromised on his principles he believed.

Even PM Narendra Modi described V Sreenivasprasad as a champion of social justice. State social welfare and district minister Dr H C Mahadevappa said that his party Congress has successfully adopted several principles of V Sreenivasaprasad he believed including implementation of several pro poor welfare five guarantees schemes aimed at empowerment of over poor 1.30 crore families across the state.

Former minister P G R Sindhi who also heads Samanathe, Swabhimana Swavalambane Foundation formed by V Sreenivasprasad wanted all local dalit leaders like Dr H C Mahadevappa, oppressed classes MLAs to take forward the principles of V Sreenivasprasad, dalits leaderhip following his death in the state.

Eminent advocate C S Dwarakanath who spoke on the occasion said even though V Sreenivasprasad served in various capacities as ministers in NDA government, but he never compromised on his principles, even aired his views openly on behalf all sc/sts/ obcs before the then PM A B Vajpayee whenever there is threat to constitution, bringing changes and reviewing the constitution.

MP Pratap Simha described CM calling on V Sreenivasprasad at his residence as friendship is greater beyond politics.

V Sreenivasprasad’s wife Bhagyalakshmi, Kalayansiri Bantheji, MLAs G T Devegowda, A R Krishnamurthy, Darshan Dhruvanarayana, P M Narendraswamy, Srivatsa, MLC Dr Thimmaiah, Yathindra Siddaramaiah were present.