This story is from January 1, 2020

Karnataka: Sangh seizes upon Christ statue row to get toehold in Ramanagara

The Sangh Parivar has latched on to the controversy over the proposal to erect a 114-foot statue of Jesus Christ in Ramanagara district, viewing the row as an opportunity to make inroads into this key Vokkaliga region.
Karnataka: Sangh seizes upon Christ statue row to get toehold in Ramanagara
DK Shivakumar lays foundation for tallest statue of Jesus Christ in a karnataka village. (Image taken from DKS's Facebook account)
BENGALURU: The Sangh Parivar has latched on to the controversy over the proposal to erect a 114-foot statue of Jesus Christ in Ramanagara district, viewing the row as an opportunity to make inroads into this key Vokkaliga region.
The statue is planned in Kapalibetta in Harobele village, a mostly Christian locality in Kanakapura, the assembly constituency of Congress's DK Shivakumar.
Shortly after he facilitated a land deal and offered Rs 10 lakh for the statue, the Sangh, led by BJP, swung into action to oppose the plan, saying there were technical issues with the plot. BJP claims the 10-acre area is reserved for cattle grazing.
The Sangh believes the controversy could snowball into a larger emotive issue, winning BJP more support, said some political observers who are tracking the mood and developments on the ground.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and other groups associated with the Sangh have planned a massive 'Kanakapura Chalo' rally on January 11.
"We intend to launch a widespread movement in Ramanagara district to expose the Congress brand of appeasement politics. To start with, we will hold a rally with participation from all branches of the Sangh, including RSS and VHP," said HG Kanakapura, district president of the Hindu Jagarana Vedike.
The Sangh had earlier launched such campaigns in the matters of Hubli Idgah Maidan and Baba Budangiri Datta Peetha, and they helped BJP build a base in Karnataka. The latest effort might give BJP a toehold in Ramanagara, where it has traditionally struggled and where Shivakumar and HD Kumaraswamy of JD(S) enjoy considerable influence.

Already, there are worrying signs for Shivakumar: there's a possibility that the Adichunchanagiri Mutt, a powerful religious institution of the Vokkaliga community, to which Shivakumar and Kumaraswamy belong, might back the campaign against the statue.
"The development is not good for anyone, including the Christian community. So, we would like to counsel Shivakumar against going ahead with the proposal. We will also actively take part in the agitation," said Annadaneswaranatha Swami, pontiff of the Adichunchanagrit branch near Shivaladattabetta, 4.5km from Kapalibetta, where a Kalabharaveswara temple patronised by the mutt is located.
Annadaneswaranatha Swami added that the Adichunchanagiri Mutt's main pontiff, Nirmalanandanatha Swami, had offered to support the movement.
BJP maintains that its objection was strictly limited to the land.
"We are not against the Christian community or opposing the statue installation. Our only concern is the land where the statue is coming up. We will go by the report of officials," said revenue minister and prominent Vokkaliga figure R Ashoka.
At a cabinet meeting on Monday, chief minister BS Yediyurappa reportedly instructed ministers to exercise restraint while making statements on the issue.
The trust which has proposed the state is unfazed by the controversy. "Politically motivated people and organisations are free to do anything, including launching agitation. But what we are doing is a legitimate and religious activity, and we will never go back on it," said Chinnaraju, a member of the Harobele Kaplibetta Development Trust. He said the land was granted to the trust after due procedure and Shivakumar's only connection with the project was that he was sponsoring the statue.
Meanwhile on Monday, the Ramanagara district administration sent a notice to the Harobele Kapalibetta Development Trust, which has proposed the Christ statue, asking it to produce, in seven days, documents to prove the land deal was legal.
Trust gets govt notice
The Ramanagara district administration on Monday sent a notice to the Harobele Kapalibetta Development Trust, which has proposed the Christ statue, asking it to produce, in seven days, documents to prove the land deal was legal.
“It is conditional grant of land and we have asked the trust to submit documents to show they have taken all required permissions for their activities. Based on the documents, we will submit our report to the government,” said Dakashayani, assistant commissioner of Ramanagara.
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About the Author
B V Shiva Shankar

BV Shiva Shankar is a special correspondent with The Times of India Hyderabad covering political issues as well as issues like metro rail, urban infrastructure, liquor and irrigation.

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