From a shameless obsequiousness born out of fear, favour and worse, Indian politicians love to see the cameras catching them falling at the feet and knees of shady godmen, swamijis, babas and other assorted frauds. In Karnataka, where the silly superstitions of the JDS and BJP have turned witchcraft into statecraft, it is little short of a disgrace.
In Bangalore on Thursday, Karnataka chief minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda reaches for the feet of the only true gods in a secular republic—“We, the People”—as he helps tie the “Jaipur Foot” of a recipient at a camp to distribute free artificial limbs. The event was organised by the Rotary club of Bangalore Peenya, and Sri Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, Jaipur.
Photograph: Karnataka Photo News
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Anil Kumble: Head to toe, the essence of a good Kannadiga
Pratibha Patil: Umbrellas, shoes, our democracy and theirs
B.S. Yediyurappa: Should a chief minister fall at a godman’s feet?
H.D. Kumaraswamy: Is Janardhana seve Janata seve?
All in a day’s work for the next chief minister of Karnataka
churumuri 
Amen.
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What a contrasting photo !!
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DVS appears to be sincere and serious in his efforts to run the state. Hope he will be able to provide a stable and good governance (provided he is allowed by his partymen).
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http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIBG/2012/01/06&PageLabel=6&EntityId=Pc00615&ViewMode=HTML
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Honestly the CM shouldn’t be doing this too. He should be in his office/ cabinet making plans for improving the lot of people with disabilities rather than engaging in this symbolic charade and then forgetting them completely. It is another matter that these political leaders should not be falling at the feet of religious leaders.
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During the Year of the Disabled, I was asked to suggest names of disabled persons in my care for a Central Minister to donate wheelchairs. It would have been a small help in our enormous endeavour to assist the disabled. There were many in need. I was asked to bring them to the function where dignitaries and the press would gather. The function was scheduled for 2 pm. Our disabled brothers and sisters were promised conveyance express, meal and tea. I took my people to the function site. The dignitary arrived around 5 pm. The press photographers posed the minister with one of the disabled. The minister made a show of helping the man into the wheelchair. He left the scene immediately. The organizers disappeared too. The wheelchair donated to our friend was the only wheelchair we ever got to take home. No meal, no refreshments, no travel fare, we got home disappointed and disillusioned. That was the last time I ever went close to a politicians function. The wound left in our hearts are still pestering especially when photographs and reports of charity of the politicians appear in the media.
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DVSG is Great! Thanks for Churmuri for publishing this photo, of a CM doing something that matters!
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Jayashree,
Did you mean that seriously? Just this one photo makes him great? Or did you always consider him great but this just confirms it? In the latter case it should have been ‘DVSG is really Great’.
Please throw some lights.
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Karnataka CM DVS in RSS attire, Hubli
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