Belagavi: “The British, who came here for trade, tied Indians together with each other and took over the whole of India,” said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. “Even now there are people who, in the name of caste and religion, pull up Indians against each other. Be alert about them,” he appealed.
He was speaking after participating in the valedictory ceremony of the 201st year of the Kittur Utsav organised by the district administration and the Kittur Development Authority.
He recalled that 33 years before the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny, the British were defeated by Rani Chennamma of Kittur. On the very day that she defeated the British and restored the dignity of Kittur, the festival is celebrated. He noted that the festival was first started in 2017 by our government.
“The British who came to trade tied up Indians amongst themselves and took over this entire country. Even our own people supported the British. They played dirty tricks against Chennamma and Rayanna,” he said. “Even now, among us, there are people who pull up Indians in the name of caste and religion and pit them against each other. We must remain vigilant about them,” he added.
Rani Chennamma, Sangolli Rayanna and Balappa, together with valour, turned back the British.
After Baba Saheb Patil became legislator, the Kittur Utsav has been conducted in a very jubilant and meaningful way. I congratulate the legislators and their team for this, he said.
“We must not forget history”
He said both Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali had troubled the British. They fought four wars with them. Both Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali were staunch warriors and patriots who fought the British. The moment we recall this history, some accuse me of playing vote-bank politics. We must remember the words of Ambedkar: “Those who do not know history cannot shape the future,” he said.
Proposal to the centre
He said our government has submitted a proposal to the Centre to declare the unity site of Rani Chennamma as a national memorial. We wrote a letter to rename the Belagavi airport after the brave Rani Chennamma. The Centre has not yet taken a decision, he said.