PM inaugurates temple dedicated to freedom fighter and spiritual leader

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday inaugurated a newly constructed temple dedicated to freedom fighter and spiritual leader Sri Madhavananda Prabhu at Inchageri village near Chadchan in Vijayapura district.

He also took part in the 44th death anniversary celebrations of Sri Madhvananda Prabhu, who fought for the independence and unity of Karnataka and for the Kala Sarohana programme.

He described him as an ideal freedom fighter who fought against caste-based discrimination and championed multiculturalism and pluralism in society.

“He and other leaders should be remembered for this,” the prime minister said. “As some of our reformers believed, the caste system can be eradicated through inter-caste and inter-religious marriages,” he said.

“The British were able to rule India by exploiting the Indian varna and caste system and the internal divisions of its 560 princely states. The caste system meant that India’s Shudras had to produce, not consume. They had no right or freedom to enjoy what they produced,” he said.

“That is why most of our freedom fighters like Sri Madhvananda Swami fought against social inequality. What spiritual leaders like Basaveshwara and other Sharanas preached in the 12th century, Sri Madhvananda Swami practised in the 20th century,” the Prime Minister said.

Shri Avadhuta Siddha Maharaj, Shri Somalingeshwar Swami, Shri Sanganabhasaveshwara Swamiji, Shri Revanasiddeswara Maharaj, Mahanta Prabhu Mahaswami of Shegnasi, Ministers MB Patil, Shivananda Patil, RB Timapur, Chairman Assurance Implementation Committee HM Revana and MLAs and MLCs including Prakash Rathod were present at the programme.

Earlier, Siddaramaiah laid floral garlands at the statues of Krantiveer Sangoli Rayanna and Rani Channamma.