Mysuru: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with securing respect for India’s cultural heritage on the world stage, citing the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and the promotion of other key pilgrimage centres as examples.
Speaking at ‘Sutturu Jathra’ (fair) event near here, he lauded Modi for promoting the preservation of Yoga, Ayurveda, and Indian languages, along with making the country secure and prosperous.
“Narendra Modi has worked to gain respect for the country’s cultural heritage on the world stage. Modiji has worked for the revival of several of our cultural centres such as Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Kashi, Mahakal Corridor (Mahakal Lok Corridor in Ujjain), and resurrection of Kedarnath and Badrinath Dham,” Shah said.
Sutturu Math located on the banks of the river Kapila, in Nanjangud taluk in this district, is one of the prominent spiritual centres in the state that propagates Veerashaiva/Lingayat faith.
Jagadguru Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Mahaswamiji of Sutturu Math, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly R Ashoka, and state BJP President B Y Vijayendra, were among those present at the event.
Shah commended Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Mahaswamiji for deciding to open a branch of the Sutturu Math in Ayodhya.
Offering tributes to 12th century social reformer and philosopher Basaveshwara, he also acknowledged the contributions of Sutturu Math and its seers in promoting the welfare of society.
“I want to tell Mahaswamiji that I myself and every worker of the BJP will always respect the contributions of Sutturu Math to the society and, in the coming days, will in every way support the efforts to take it forward amidst the people,” he added.
Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj, who chiselled the idol of ‘Ram Lalla’ consecrated in the newly-constructed temple in Ayodhya, was felicitated at the event.
Shah, who arrived in Mysuru during the early hours of Sunday after attending the Sutturu fair, visited Chamundi Hills here and offered prayers to Goddess Chamundeshwari, the presiding deity of Mysuru, along with Joshi and Vijayendra.
“Fortunate to have performed pooja at the Maa Chamundeshwari Temple in Mysore today. Offered prayers for the well-being and prosperity of every citizen and more power to our nation,” he later posted on social media platform X.
Later in the day, he took part in meetings with state BJP core committee members and leaders of the party’s Mysuru cluster (Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan and Chamarajanagar constituencies), regarding preparations for Lok Sabha polls and alliance with JD(S).
The BJP and JD(S) have formed an alliance and decided to fight the Lok Sabha polls together in Karnataka. Seat sharing talks are on between the two parties.
The meeting gains significance, as it was held in the Old Mysuru region where JD(S) has a considerable vote base and is said to have expressed its desire to field its candidates from certain constituencies.
According to reports, Shah instructed party leaders at the meeting not to make any comments against the BJP’s alliance with JD(S), amid recent statements by some leaders expressing their opposition to cede certain constituencies to the regional party.
BJP’s state unit President B Y Vijayendra had said, earlier in the day, that Shah is likely to formulate BJP’s strategy for the Lok Sabha polls, discuss about facing the polls together with the JD(S) — with proper coordination between workers and leaders of both parties at the ground level, and also hold deliberations on the number of seats to be given to the regional party.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah challenged Shah to participate in a public debate with him, asserting that he can prove that the state’s treasury is not empty because of the state’s guarantee schemes.
Accusing BJP leaders of trying to “destabilise” the implementation of the guarantee schemes of his government, and questioning whether they harbour hatred for the people of the state, Siddaramaiah said those who oppose them cannot have the mercy of Lord Ram or the blessings of mother goddess Chamundeshwari.
The CM, in a statement released by his office, also questioned Shah on the delay in providing central government’s drought relief to the state.
Meanwhile, Congress workers staged a protest in Mysuru against Shah’s visit and the central government’s delay in releasing drought relief to Karnataka. The party also organised a ‘My Tax, My Right’ campaign, alleging injustice by the central government in tax devolution and grants owed to the state.
Hitting out at the Congress for organising the protest during Shah’s visit, Vijayendra alleged that it was being done to “cover up the state Congress government’s failures”.
(This report has been published as part of an auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)