The veteran politician, former union minister, former chief minister and one of the stylish chief ministers of Karnataka SM Krishna urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare ‘Bharata Rathna’ posthumously to Dr Rajakumar. SM Krishna was speaking at the inauguration of ‘Dr Rajakumar National Festival’ at Ravindra Kalakshetra on Friday evening.

Besides an actor par excellence Dr Raj was man of simplicity and carried Gandhian principles in him. He was utmost simple, achiever, honest and agile personality. He represented Karnataka as one single person. You cannot get another person like Dr Rajakumar he felt.

Remembering the 100 days event of Bangarada Manushya and obviously Dr Rajakumar kidnap by fugitive Veerappan, SM Krishna stated that Dr Rajakumar showed unique qualities. When I asked Smt Parvathamma Rajakumar on the moment of Kidnap, Krishna was told ‘Banni Andru Ivru Nadiri Andru’. He knew the consequences of protest. Secondly when Nagappa Maradagi attacked Veerappan, it was Dr Raj who kept him away from doing so. Look at the exemplary qualities.

Veerappan was a good strategist. He was moving from place to places. He kept Dr Raj for 108 days. It was Karunanidhi chief minister at that time. He was helpful in doing some work. Nakkeeran Gopal was sent to meet Veerappan.

SM Krishna explained two other occasions of meeting Dr Rajakumar. Once in Lodhi Bhavan he went to see as union minister at Padma Vibhushan time. Dr Raj came with just towel after bath when someone told that I am waiting in the lounge, another occasion was when he came to Mumbai when I was governor. I had seen complete innocence in this tower like personality pointed Krishna that got him huge applaud in the auditorium.