Mysore/Mysuru: Maintaining that Nadaprabhu Kempegowda’s vision was responsible for the growth of Bengaluru to international levels, MLC Dr. D. Thimmaiah said that the erstwhile ruler should also be credited for organised growth of the city and conservation of numerous lakes and other water bodies in and around Bengaluru.

He was speaking after inaugurating Kempegowda Jayanthi celebrations organised by Karnataka Sena Pade at Rotary Hall on JLB Road here recently.

Pointing out that Kempegowda followed the principles of Basavanna for ensuring social justice for all, Dr. Thimmaiah said that he (Kempegowda) never discriminated among castes and communities and extended benefits to all sections of the society.

Suyog Hospital Founder Dr. S.P. Yoganna, in his address, said that Kempegowda sacrificed everything he had for the well-being of the people.

Recalling that Chamarajpet, Chickpet, Balepet, Cottonpet, Sultanpet etc. in Bengaluru  now are all the initiatives of Kempegowda, who had developed these areas based on the occupation of residents, he said that everyone in the State remembers the contributions of the Founder of Bengaluru. 

On the occasion, ‘Sri Kempegowda Seva Ratna’ award was conferred on Dr. C.Y. Shivegowda (Social service), Dr. Krishnakumar Sagar (Politics), C. Mariswamy, President of Mysuru Vokkaliga Association (Organisation), S. Surendra of Nirmiti Kendra (Planning), Dr. M.D. Mohan Kumar of Excise Department (Government Service), Dr. R.H. Pavitra, KSOU’s Economics faculty (Higher education), Executive Engineer K.M. Ravikumar (Engineering) and Chamarajanagar Venkataramu (Community service).

Also, meritorious students who scored high marks in SSLC were presented with                                              Pratibha Puraskar.

Former Zilla Panchayat (ZP) President K. Marigowda presided. Former Karnataka Government Employees Association President H.K. Ramu, BJP leader Yashaswini Somashekar, Congress leader M. Pradeep Kumar, Poetess Pushpa Iyengar, State Vokkaligara Sangha Working President C.G. Gangadhar, Karnataka Sena Pade State President Srinivas Gowda, Karnataka Sena Pade District President Tejesh Lokesh Gowda, leaders Dr. Shantharaje Urs, C.H. Krishnaiah, Prabhushankar, Bangarappa, Jyothi, Indira and others were present.