Haveri: Chief minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, visited Haveri district to inaugurate the Haveri Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS) and other developmental works. Siddaramaiah, on Wednesday, superceeded the previous record of the longest chief minister of Karnataka, held by D Devaraj Urs, and becames the longest standing chief minister of Karnataka.Party workers celebrated his record-breaking tenure at the inauguration ceremony of HIMS. Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar cut the cake and offered it to the chief minister. DK Shivakumar, cabinet colleagues Shivanand Patil, Satish Jarkiholi, Dr Sharan Prakash Patil and HK Patil, former chief minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai, and Haveri district legislators wished Siddaramaiah. Former chief minister Bommai, minister Shivanand Patil and minister HK Patil, deputy speaker of the Legislative Assembly and MLA Rudrappa Lamani, and Byadagi MLA Basavaraj Shivannavar demanded the announcement of a super speciality hospital in Haveri. Siddaramaiah announced a super speciality hospital for Haveri district, and responding to Haveri district minister Shivanand Patil’s demand for a govt medical college for Vijayapura district, he assured that Vijayapura district would get a govt medical college.“We are committed to improve the health sector in the state. So, each district gets a medical college, a super speciality hospital, a trauma centre and a cancer hospital from the govt. Poor people are not able to bear medical expenses at private hospitals, so govt medical sector is a lifeline for economically backward people,” Siddaramaiah asserted.Chief minister also demanded that former chief minister Bommai ensure that the 3rd phase of Upper Krishna irrigation and Mahadayi drinking water project is implemented, for the development of North Karnataka. He said 172 tmc additional water could be utilised according to the tribunal order, but both projects required environmental clearance. “Former chief minister and MP Basavaraj Bommai should take the initiative for a delegation to the Union govt and remove all legal hurdles for the project because Bommai conducted a march for the implementation of the Mahadayi project, for the welfare of Karnataka by keeping politics aside,” he advised.Word power is world power“Word power is world power” was a statement by DCM DK Shivakumar on the day Siddaramaiah created the record for the longest tenure as the chief minister. He reiterated it on stage in front of Siddaramaiah. “If you give your word, you must keep your word. Keeping one’s given word is the greatest power in the world,” he said.
