Belagavi
Congress brought freedom to this country by fighting against the British. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah  questioned as to why those who are posing as patriots did not fight against the British.
He was speaking after inaugurating Sangolli Rayanna festival organised by the Department of Kannada and Culture at Sangolli village in the district.Â
The British-French-Mughals ruled our country only with the policy of divide and rule. Sangolli Rayanna fought bitterly against the British. We are also the ones who betrayed Rayanna and handed over him to the British. The Chief Minister said that if Rayanna was an example of patriotism, those who betrayed Rayanna to the British were traitors.
Patriotism means loving the people of the country. Those who hate the people of the country in the name of caste and religion cannot be patriotic. Sharanshrestha Basavanna explained that even Ambedkar, who drafted the Constitution, preached love for man without caste discrimination, the Chief Minister said.
The programme was presided over by MLA Mahantesh Kaujalagi, held in the divine presence of Sri Sri Gurulinga Shivacharya Mahaswamy, Sri Sri Madiwala Rajayogindra Mahaswamy and Sri Sri Niranjananandpuri Mahaswamy. Ministers Satish Jarakiholi, Byrathi  Suresh, Shivaraj Tangadagi, MLAs HY Meti, Ashok Pattanshetti, former Minister HM Revanna, former MLA Anjali NImbalkar, Prakash Hukkeri and others were present.
