Narendra Modi to participate in 885th Basava Jayanti Utsav in London

Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be participating in the 885th birth anniversary of 12th-century social reformer Basaveshwara in the London Borough of Lambeth on April 18.

Neeraj Patil, former Mayor of Lambeth, U.K., and president of Lambeth Basaveshwara Foundation, speaking to The Hindu in Kalaburagi on Friday, said that Mr. Modi has finalised his visit to Lambeth to attend the Basava Jayanti Utsav at the Albert Embankment Gardens in the London Borough, where a statue of Basaveshwara was installed three years ago.

He said that Mr. Modi will be visiting the United Kingdom for three days between April 17 and April 20 to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Dr. Patil said that the Lambeth Basaveshwara Foundation celebrates the birth anniversaries of both Basaveshwara and B.R. Ambedkar at the Basaveshwara statue in the London Borough every year.

“The ideologies of Basaveshwara and Ambedkar bear a strong resemblance to one other; both promoted gender equality and tolerance. The two fought caste discrimination and untouchability in society,” Dr. Patil added.