Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar has mocked the idea of building a Ram temple in Karnataka by the BJP government in the state. In an exclusive interview to News18, Shivakumar said that there is no connection between Ram and Ramdevrabetta, the proposed site for the “spectacular” Ram temple.
Presenting the latest budget, ahead of elections in Karnataka in a few months, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced an allocation of Rs 425 crore to build a “magnificent” Ram Mandir (temple in Kannada) on the lines of the Ram temple. Made in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
“Where are they going to build the Ram temple? They (BJP) are trying to woo people emotionally. Go and ask the people of Ramnagar, where is the Ram temple there… Was Ram born there, was Sita born there or Anjaneya. There is no history there, but there is a small Ram temple. Let them make anything, it will not affect us politically,” Shivakumar told News18 while officially starting his Prajadhwani Yatra.
Following Bommai’s announcement, several senior BJP leaders wrote to him demanding the formation of a temple development committee, which would plan and execute the construction of a Ram temple at Ramdevrabetta in Ramanagara district, which is considered a Janata Dal (Secular) stronghold . and Congress.
With an allocation of Rs 425 crore, the BJP plans to make Ramdevrabetta the ‘Ayodhya of the South’ which will spread over 19 acres.
The Karnataka Congress chief said that there are some local ministers and leaders who want to create communal disturbance in the region and hence are making this demand. Shivakumar challenged Bommai to build a BJP office in Ramanagara before thinking of building a Ram temple.
“Mr Bommai should ask his leaders to set up a BJP office there. Congress office is a temple for Congress. Let them first build the BJP office there and then the Ram temple.
As he began the first leg of his bus-bound Prajadhwani Yatra towards Mysore, the senior Congress leader explained how the winds of change are blowing in the Congress’s favour. Having set a target of more than 135 seats to win in the upcoming elections, Shivakumar believes that after this special visit – by him from the northern part of Karnataka and by Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah from the south – Congress will be able to add more seats to its kitty.
“Now it is 141 seats. 136 was my guess, but now after this visit, we will add at least five more… People want to oust this BJP government from power after 50 days. The countdown has begun.. you will have a new Congress government in the next 50 days.
On the issue of dealing with inflation and the COVID-19 pandemic, Shivakumar spoke of the BJP’s “inability” to control price rise. He said lakhs of people lost their lives during the pandemic, “but the BJP used PM Modi’s face on vaccination certificates as a marketing gimmick to popularize him as a leader.”
“Those who were affected by Covid and admitted in hospitals were promised that their medical bills would be reimbursed. Those who died, did not get the certificate. You gave vaccination certificate with PM’s photo, why not death certificate with PM’s photo? More than 4.5 lakh people died in Karnataka, you could have given the death certificate along with the PM’s photo,” Shivakumar said.
Asked what is clicking in favor of the Congress, Shivakumar said it is the BJP’s failure to fulfill the promises made to the people in both the manifesto and the budget. He believes that only Congress can restore the glory of Karnataka and Bangalore.
He said, ‘BJP has no vision and its ministers are fighting continuously. Yeddyurappa’s tears you see, why did he resign? Why did he resign? These are the questions in the eyes of the public. We want to restore the pride of Karnataka, we want to restore the pride of Bangalore, give a clean administration, good governance government because every common man’s pocket has been cut, prices are sky high and income is at the bottom . the Congress leader said.
Asked how the BJP’s stand would affect the outcome given that the upcoming election would be between Savarkar and Tipu, the state Congress chief responded by saying: “The BJP is looking at churning emotions, while the Congress is looking at feeding people.” is wanting.” People.”
He further said that BJP actually stands for ‘Bhrashtachar Janata Party’.
“Why did Bommai arrest everyone who put up PayCM posters including me and Siddaramaiah? BJP stands for Brashtachar Janata Party in which ‘B’ stands for universe corruption (Absolute corruption),” he said.
The Congress, of late, has been stressing on the BS Yediyurappa factor and how he was “humiliated and sidelined” by the BJP. It has even reached out to the people, especially the Lingayat community, saying that their tallest leader Yeddyurappa was ill-treated by the BJP and the same would not happen if they supported the Congress.
“They tied him up and silenced him. The BJP now knows that they cannot sell his face anymore, so they have got Bommai. Amit Shah said Bommai will lead the state, now he says he will contest elections in the name of Modiji. It means they are contesting elections without a leader.
On the issue of infighting within the Congress and who would be the chief ministerial face of the party, the KPCC president made it clear that he would follow whatever the Congress high command says.
“There is no fight. We will go by whatever the high command says. The high command has said that (Mallikarjun) Kharge’s leadership, DK Shivakumar’s leadership, Siddaramaiah’s leadership… collective leadership… we all will work together and Will bring the Congress government.
Responding to a question about maximum tickets from the Lingayat community if the Congress wins and the pressure to have a Lingayat leader as chief minister, Shivakumar said the party would take all leaders and communities into confidence.
“Social justice must be maintained, it is important to win. Who will win will be our priority,” he said in the interview.
Asked whether the JD(S) will be a factor in this election and whether the Congress will forge an alliance with the party if it falls short of the magic number, a confident Karnataka Congress chief dismissed the possibility, saying: “We will form the government on our own.” Will make my own.”
read all latest politics news Here