Nanjangud: Maintaining that secularism has remained only on paper and limited to speeches, Union Minister for Fertilizers & Chemicals Ananth Kumar has said that the credit for true secularism should entirely go to the 12th Century Social Reformer Basavanna.

He was speaking after inaugurating an expo and Information Centre at Suttur Jathra Mahotsava at Suttur in Nanjangud Taluk on Saturday.

Observing that in the current situation, secularism needs to be redefined, Ananth Kumar said that joint efforts of the Union and State Governments were needed to ensure that farmers get remunerative prices for their produce.

Pointing out that Neem coated fertilizers has been of great help to the farming community, he claimed that the chemical mafia was after him for preventing adulteration of fertilizers.

Asserting that he always stood for the farmers, Ananth Kumar said the Union Government’s appropriate measures had ensured that Neem coated fertilizers reached directly to the farmers without any pilferage. He further said that over 3,000 Jan Aushadh Centres have been set up in 557 districts in the country.

Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy who spoke after inaugurating an educational expo, said that vested interests were out to divide the society.

Regretting that the practise of untouchability has not been completely eradicated, he rued that women were not getting their due in a patriarch dominated society.