Rahul's 111 roses for Siddaganga seer

AICC president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday visited Siddaganga Mutt and sought senior seer Shivakumara Swami's blessings.

He offered a bouquet comprising 100 red roses and 11 white roses to the seer, who celebrated his 111th birthday on April 1.

The seer asked him to have prasadam before leaving the Mutt.

Junior pontiff Siddalinga Swami recalled visits of Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi to the Mutt and presented a portrait of Shivakumara Swami to him.

He was not scheduled to consume food at the temple. However, he consumed pulav, rice, rasam and payasam.

KPCC President G Parameshwara, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, senior Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge, minister T B Jayachandra, D K Shivakumar, MLA Rafiq Ahmed and MP SP Muddahanumegowda accompanied him.

Rahul Gandhi's visit caused inconvenience to devotees as the police had barred them from meeting the seer.

The Mutt gates were closed for everyone to facilitate his visit. The gates were re-opened after his departure at 4.30 pm.

Many roads wore a deserted a look as the police had ensured zero traffic norm.

Road users were put to inconvenience as they were forced to take alternative roads to reach their destinations.

He took out a roadshow which received good response in Tumakuru, Hebbur, Kunigal.

He addressed at few stretches criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and terming JD(S) as BJP's B team.

However, at a few villages, the roadshow flopped as there were hardly any people. He chose not to address and continued the roadshow.