Agriculturist, Lawyer, Political and Social Worker
Gurudevarahalli Madegowda popularly known as G. Made Gowda (1928 – 17 July 2021) was an Indian freedom fighter, politician and also an activist.[1] He was former Member of Parliament and a Cabinet Minister in the state of Karnataka.[2]
His role in convincing then chief ministerS. Bangarappa in bringing an ordinance to overcome the interim award of Cauvery Dispute Tribunal (CWDT), is considered to be a heroic achievement of Madegowda by thousands of farmers and his admirers.[18] When Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal (CWDT) passed the final award in 2007, he was instrumental in holding the Cauvery agitation for more than 100 days in Mandya district and could be seen sitting at Silver Jubilee Park in Mandya throughout the agitation.[19][20][21]
Controversy
An audio clip alleged to contain a conversation between Madegowda and then Mandya district in-charge minister C. S. Puttaraju of JD(S) became popular on 7 April 2019.[22] As per the clip, Madegowda is heard seeking money from Puttaraju for meeting the poll expenses as people are demanding money.[23] At the same time, his son Madhu was campaigning for Nikhil in Mandya during 2019 Indian general elections and Madegowda tells that he has spoken to Madhu regarding the same. Later both Puttaraju and Madegowda admitted to the conversation and denied anything wrong with the same. In the clip, he also reminds Puttaraju that one group in Maddur, which falls in Mandya (Lok Sabha constituency) belongs to them and other belonging to then Transport ministerD. C. Thammanna who happens to be the MLA of Maddur has already made monetary arrangements.[24] Post revelation of the Controversy, Puttaraju accused Union Government and Income Tax Department of tapping his phone at the cost of making electoral dividends to Independent candidateSumalatha Ambareesh who was supported by Narendra Modi led National Democratic Alliance. Reiterating Puttaraju's claims Madegowda claimed that even Prime MinisterNarendra Modi cannot take part in election affairs without money and tried clarifying that they needed money just to meet the expenses incurred towards food and day to day outlay.[25] Then chief ministerH. D. Kumaraswamy justified the demand by saying that seeking money for poll expenses was not against rules and there is a provision in the law for it. An FIR was registered under Section 171E of IPC against Puttaraju and Madegowda based on leaked audio tape. This episode dented his image built over years.[26]
Death
He was suffering from lung ailments and was admitted to the Hospital in Bangalore on 20 Jun 2021 and later shifted to a Multi specialty Hospital in K. M. Doddi, Mandya district.[27][28][29] He died on 17 July 2021 due to age related issues.[11][30][31]