S Nijalingappa memorial plan dumped

CHITRADURGA: A grand plan to convert the residence of S Nijalingappa, the first chief minister of united Karnataka, into a memorial, has been finally shelved.
The official reason for dropping the proposal is that the government did not deem it feasible to buy the historical residence, situated in Chitradurga.
Chitradurga deputy commissioner V P Ikkeri said the government has already diverted the sum of Rs 1 crore earmarked for the purchase of Nijalingappa's house, after the family turned down the government's offer to buy the house.
It all started in 2009, when former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa visited the dilapidated house after participating in the 75th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana. Moved by its condition, he announced that it would be converted into a museum, and directed then Chitradurga deputy commissioner A A Biswas to negotiate with the family on its sale.
On June 18, 2012, Biswas held a meeting with Kiran Shankar, the last son of the late leader. The government offered to pay a sum of Rs 1.32 crore, but Shankar insisted on Rs 2 crore.
The government had released Rs 1 crore for it, but when the deal fell through, it decided to drop the proposal and divert the funds earmarked for the purpose to other memorials, which included Rs 35 lakh for the S Nijalingappa tomb at Seebara village in Chitradurga. This was inaugurated by spiritual leader Dalai Lama.
A TRUE GANDHIAN
The grand old man of Chitradurga was known for his Gandhian ideology and had an unblemished innings of more than six decades in politics. While most ministers take months together to vacate their official residences and continue to enjoy the benefits even after demitting office, Nijalingappa was a class apart. The veteran Congressman politely declined the offer of free government accommodation in Bangalore after his wife passed away in 1989, and moved to his house in Chitradurga. He had built the house in 1932 from his earnings as a practicing lawyer.