Bengaluru: Dr Manohar Lohia Thinkers Forum has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to posthumously honour Karnataka’s Former Chief Minister and pioneer of land reform D Devaraj Urs with ‘Bharat Ratna’.
Dr Devaraj Urs has played a pivotal role in the building post-independence India. When he was the CM of Karnataka, his major programme of ‘Karnataka Land Reforms Bill – 1961’ was termed as the programme which helped to keep aside the social imbalance among people. It has helped the farmers at large.
This was expressed in the letter to PM written by Retired Supreme Court Judge V Gopal Gowda, Writer Baraguru Ramachandrappa, Senior Advocate Prof. Ravi Varma Kumar, Dr Rama Manohar Lohia Thinkers Forum President BN Shivanna, Advocate Lakshiminarayan, Thinker Banjagere Jayaprakash, Advocate Ismail Zabiulla and Educationist Bhimanna Meti.
Dr Devaraj Urs was thinking far ahead of times and had introduced the technology in administration. He was always pro farmers and people-friendly and had introduced various programmes for their benefit. Bonded labourers system was abolished by him and he was instrumental in building hostels for students, rehabilitation of beggars, accommodation facilities to migrant labourers and other popular programmes of his times are mentioned in the letter.
Former Chief Minister Urs was a man respected and recognised by the whole country. So his contributions need to be considered and posthumously need to honour him with ‘Bharat Ratna’ the letter insisted.
