Mysuru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said that no one should use community or religion for gaining political benefits.

In his valedictory address of the annual festival of the 11th century pontiff Sri Shivarathreeshwara at Suttur village, located on the banks of Kabini River at Suttur in Nanjangud taluk, Siddaramaiah, recited the lines of Kannada Nada Geethe and, said, “We sing Naada Geethe in public programmes, but, a few people go against its spirit.

The 12th century social reformer Basavanna simplified religion and said, ‘kindness is the source of any religion’ (dayave dharmada moolavayya). Every religion, sadhu, and saint propagated peace and harmony.”

“One should not involve either religion or community in politics. But there should be ‘dharma’ in politics. Basavanna, through his Anubhava Mantapa, preached equality and his dream was a scientific form of society. But in recent years, human values have been declining and hatred is increasing.

We should alert the people about those who are spreading hatred. Hindus are not only those who visit temples, but, the people with human values,” the CM said.

Lauding the Suttur Mutt for organising the fair, Siddaramaiah said that fairs and festivals are our culture and part of our life. “Jatras represent harmony. Kuvempu said that every child is born as a Vishwamanava (universal human), but, the social system makes the child ‘Alpamanava’ as it grows. When a child becomes Vishwamanava, he will be an asset for the nation. It is in one’s hand to become either Vishwamanava or Alpamanava,” he said.

Highlighting the ills of superstitions, the CM said that when a crow sat on my car, there was a debate over it and people cooked up a superstition story. “The crow was partially blind and thus, it sat on the car. The state government has drafted the Anti-Superstition Bill and it needs slight modifications,” he said.

The CM said that he has been attending the Suttur fair for the past many years. “I have a personal gain by attending the festival as a large number of voters from my constituency also participate,” he quipped.

Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj H K Patil said, “Another five districts in the state will be announced as open defecation-free in February. Till now, the government has declared 20 districts as open defecation-free.”

Earlier, the CM released the CD of a Kannada movie ‘Hebbett Ramakka’ and also, distributed prizes to the winners of the exhibition, agriculture mela, cultural mela and education and science exhibition.

Suttur Mutt seer ,Swami, Siddarama Swami of Sri Naaganur Rudrakshi Mutt, Belagavi, and Mallikarjuna Murugarajendra Swami of Murugarajendra Mutt, were present. Ministers H C Mahadevappa, M C Mohana Kumari, and Tanveer Sait, MLC Tara Anuradha, MP R Dhruvanarayan, MLA M K Somashekar, and Kalale N Keshavamurthy, and Ooty MLA Ganesh were present.