Protest against installation of Rajendra Swami's statue

Demanding that a statue of the late Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar be installed at the Gun House Circle, instead of the proposed statue of the late Suttur seer Shivaratri Rajendra Swami, members of Aramane Ulisi Horata Samithi staged a protest, here on Tuesday.

The protesters entered into a wordy duel with the police personnel, when they were being vacated, citing that they had not obtained prior permission to stage the protest near the bust of Mahatma Gandhi on Krishnaraja Boulevard. Later, the activists staged the protest on the footpath nearby. They shouted slogans against both the state government and the police department.

They said, their repeated pleas to the state government for the installation of the statue of Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar at the Gun House Circle has been neglected. The statue of the seer can be installed at another suitable place. They took exception to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, performing the ‘Bhoomi Puja’ for the statue of the seer, neglecting their pleas.

Samithi convenor Nandish G Urs, T K Subramanyaraje Urs, Bogadi Siddegowda, Mahendrappa, Sosale Siddaraju and M Ramegowda were present.

The Suttur mutt authorities had cancelled a procession of a replica of the late seer, scheduled for Tuesday morning, citing the rain since Sunday evening.