<p>AICC president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday visited Siddaganga Mutt and sought senior seer Shivakumara Swami's blessings.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He offered a bouquet comprising 100 red roses and 11 white roses to the seer, who celebrated his 111th birthday on April 1.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The seer asked him to have prasadam before leaving the Mutt.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Junior pontiff Siddalinga Swami recalled visits of Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi to the Mutt and presented a portrait of Shivakumara Swami to him.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He was not scheduled to consume food at the temple. However, he consumed pulav, rice, rasam and payasam.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Rahul Gandhi's visit caused inconvenience to devotees as the police had barred them from meeting the seer.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Mutt gates were closed for everyone to facilitate his visit. The gates were re-opened after his departure at 4.30 pm.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Many roads wore a deserted a look as the police had ensured zero traffic norm.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Road users were put to inconvenience as they were forced to take alternative roads to reach their destinations.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He took out a roadshow which received good response in Tumakuru, Hebbur, Kunigal.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He addressed at few stretches criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and terming JD(S) as BJP's B team.</p>.<p class="bodytext">However, at a few villages, the roadshow flopped as there were hardly any people. He chose not to address and continued the roadshow.</p>
<p>AICC president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday visited Siddaganga Mutt and sought senior seer Shivakumara Swami's blessings.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He offered a bouquet comprising 100 red roses and 11 white roses to the seer, who celebrated his 111th birthday on April 1.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The seer asked him to have prasadam before leaving the Mutt.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Junior pontiff Siddalinga Swami recalled visits of Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi to the Mutt and presented a portrait of Shivakumara Swami to him.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He was not scheduled to consume food at the temple. However, he consumed pulav, rice, rasam and payasam.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Rahul Gandhi's visit caused inconvenience to devotees as the police had barred them from meeting the seer.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Mutt gates were closed for everyone to facilitate his visit. The gates were re-opened after his departure at 4.30 pm.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Many roads wore a deserted a look as the police had ensured zero traffic norm.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Road users were put to inconvenience as they were forced to take alternative roads to reach their destinations.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He took out a roadshow which received good response in Tumakuru, Hebbur, Kunigal.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He addressed at few stretches criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and terming JD(S) as BJP's B team.</p>.<p class="bodytext">However, at a few villages, the roadshow flopped as there were hardly any people. He chose not to address and continued the roadshow.</p>