Deterioration of values not confined to politics: Advani at condolence meet

Udupi, February 15: Opining that the deterioration of values is not restricted to politics, senior BJP leader and former deputy prime minister L K Advani said that since independence it had been there in each and every field including education and healthcare.

Speaking at the condolence meeting at the Ammani Ramanna Shetty Memorial Hall, here, after paying tributes to departed soul of Dr VS Acharya, he said, as politics was more in the limelight, deterioration of values in politics was discussed more.

“Still, I don't think there had been a great decline of the values in politics. Whatever decline in political values it was at par with the decline of values in the society”, he opined.

“Political leaders like Dr Acharya who had commitment and integrity continued to exist in politics and I hope under Dr Acharya's influence more men of character got pruned in politics'', Mr Advani said.

Former CM B.S. Yedyurappa said that Dr Acharya was the man behind the successful budgets presented by him. He also proposed to build a monument in the memory of Dr. Acharya.

MP Anantha Kumar went one step ahead by proposing to set up an Institute of Financial Development and Parliamentary Affairs in Dr VS Achraya's memory. That institute shall train the representatives of the people like grama panchayath members, MLAs, MPs, Ministers and political administrators on development. “Institute's administrtive office shall be in Bangalore, whereas it shall have its training campus in Udupi-Manipal”, he said.

Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda said that Dr Acharya was a gentleman in politics and never practiced politics of revenge.

BJP State President KS Eshwarappa opined that instead of talking of Dr Achrya's greatness in the meeting it would be better if the people in politics follow his ideals. Former Minister K. Jayaprakash Hegde expressed concern over decline in the reading habits among the politicians and representatives of the people. “Dr Achaya was an exception to it and used to make maximum use Library of the Legislative House”, he said.

Deputy Commissioner MT Reju recalled his last journey with Dr Acharya on Tuesday and said the minister had proposed to set up Electrical Sub Station in Udupi catering to the power needs of Udupi for the next 20 years.

Sangha Pariwar leaders Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, B Somashekhar Bhat, Gujjadi Prabhakar Nayak and others also spoke. Thousands of people paid their tribute to the soul of their departed leader.