Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar pays tribute to SM Krishna, calls him a father figure – Karnataka News
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar expressed profound grief over the demise of veteran leader and former Chief Minister SM Krishna, describing him as a father figure and a political guide. Speaking emotionally to the media, Shivakumar paid tribute to Krishna’s remarkable contributions to Karnataka’s development and legacy.
“SM Krishna was like my father. His guidance and advice are evident in my life. He is the architect of ‘Nava Karnataka’,” said Shivakumar. Reflecting on Krishna’s visionary leadership, he added, “Kengal Hanumanthaiah built Vidhana Soudha and SM Krishna built Vikasa Soudha. Bengaluru International Airport and the Metro train are his contributions. His last budget was Rs 26,000 crores, and today it has grown to Rs 3.83 lakh crores. His contribution to the state economy is invaluable.”
Shivakumar highlighted several transformative projects spearheaded by Krishna, including the construction of Vikasa Soudha for state development, Udyoga Bhavan for employment generation, and the establishment of the Karnataka Beverages Corporation to bolster the state exchequer.
He also remembered Krishna’s unwavering commitment during critical moments. “He offered to resign for the sake of Cauvery. Only we know the efforts that he put in during Rajkumar’s kidnap by Veerappan,” he recalled.
Acknowledging Krishna’s role in turning Bengaluru into an IT hub, Shivakumar credited him with initiatives like the mid-day meal scheme, ‘Sthree Shakthi’, ‘Yashaswini’, and the ‘Bhoomi’ app. “His contribution to making Bengaluru the IT capital is immense. His work in branding Bengaluru as a global city is visible today with its growth,” he said.
Shivakumar, who described Krishna as a relative and mentor, vowed to carry forward his legacy. “He has left behind a legacy, and we need to carry it forward. I will walk in his footsteps. He was a visionary, and it would take hours to talk about him.”
The government announced that Krishna’s final rites will be performed with full state honours in his native village, Somanahalli, Madduru taluk. “The public can pay homage at his residence in Sadashivanagar until 8 am on Wednesday. His mortal remains will then be taken to Somanahalli and displayed until 3 pm,” Shivakumar informed.
A state holiday has been declared for all government offices, schools, and colleges on Wednesday, and a three-day mourning period will be observed. “We have organised a tribute event at Bharat Jodo Bhavan of the KPCC office at 5 pm. All party events and the Legislature party meeting have been postponed,” Shivakumar announced. Mandya district in-charge Minister Chaluvaraya Swamy and Shivakumar will oversee arrangements for the funeral.
