Mangaluru, (The Hindu): The former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said though the former Minister late B.A. Moideen was born a Muslim, he earned the love and respect of all, thereby becoming a leader of all.

Speaking after the release of Nannolagina Naanu (Me within me), the autobiography of the late Minister here, Mr. Siddaramaiah said no one makes an application to be born in a particular religion or caste. “But whoever hangs on to the religion in which he or she is born and hates others is a communal (mataandha),” he said.

Stating that Moideen has a chapter on him in the autobiography, Mr. Siddaramaiah said, “The late leader wrote that the clouds of Hindutva masked my achievements just as clouds masked the moon and he wished that I would emerge successful in the coming days.”

The former Chief Minister was referring to the defeat of his government as well as his defeat in the Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency.

Moideen also suggested a movement on the lines of the Independence movement to eliminate communalism in society. He had also said politicians should always spread human values among the masses, Mr. Siddaramaiah said.

Mr. Siddaramaiah said Moideen was his Cabinet colleague in the J.H. Patel government as a Minister for Small Scale Industries and later Minister for Higher Education when he was the Deputy Chief Minister holding the Finance portfolio.

“Whenever Moideen came with proposals from Mangaluru region, I used to clear them immediately as I was sure he would never have any personal interest in them,” Mr. Siddaramaiah said.

Stating that he does not believe in ‘punarjanma’ (rebirth), Mr. Siddaramaiah said whatever one has to do has to be done during one’s lifetime.

Speaking earlier, one of writers, B.A. Mohammed Ali, said Navakarnataka Publications would sell the book across its stores. Five philanthropists have funded 1,500 books (priced at Rs.250) to be distributed in schools in Dakshina Kannada. Mr. Ali urged Minister U.T. Khader, who was present, to arrange its distribution in all Kannada-medium schools and libraries in the State.

The former Vice-Chancellor of Kannada University B.A. Viveka Rai released the book in the presence of Legislative Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar, former ministers M.C. Nanaiah and B. Ramanath Rai, co-author Muhammed Kulai.