New Delhi: Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and BJP leader D V Sadananda Gowda will represent the government at the last rites of noted social reformer and prominent Lingayat seer Shivakumara Swami Tuesday.
The two ministers will offer floral tributes on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and represent the Centre, official sources said.
The seer passed away at 111 due to age related ailments at Siddaganga Mutt on the outskirts of the city Monday.
Considered as a great humanitarian and lovably called as ‘Walking God’, by his devotees, the senior seer of the Siddaganga Mutt ended his life at 11:44 hrs, and later in the afternoon Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy announced his demise.
A tweet from Railway Minister Piyush Goyal’s office said, ”In view of the tragic demise of His Holiness Sri Sivakumar Swamiji, Railways has made special arrangements for those heading to Tumkur to pay their respects. Two special trains will run between Yesvantpur & Tumkur 22nd Jan, and 6 trains will halt temporarily at Kyatasandra.”
The district administration in Karnataka has also made elaborate security arrangements for the visit of the dignitaries. More than 10 helipads were made for landing of the helicopters of the dignitaries.
The burial of the Siddaganga Seer will be performed at 1630 hrs on Tuesday.
The mortal remains of the seer will be kept for public viewing at Siddaganga Math at Kyatasandra on the outskirts of Tumakuru city.
The 111-year-old Siddaganga Seer, called ‘Nadadaduva Devaru’ (Walking God) passionately by devotees, had been ailing for the past few months.
UNI
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