Amit Shah coming with 'mutt run' in region

When BJP National President Amit Shah hits the campaign trail for Assembly elections in Mumbai-Karnataka region for the second time, he will also visit mutts, temple and memorials of noted persons in the region.

Interestingly, Mr Shah will not just visit Siddharoodamutt which is a secular mutt and Moorusaviramutt which maintained a neutral stand in Lingayat independent religion issue, but also pay a visit to Murughamutt in Dharwad. Minister Vinay Kulkarni of Congress who played a major role in Lingayat separate religion movement is associated with this mutt and its seer was also active in the Lingayat struggle.

In the background of the BJP's stand that Lingayat independent religion issue was just a brainchild of Congress to prevent B S Yeddyurappa from becoming the chief minister, Mr Shah's visit to Murughamutt has evoked curiosity.

Mr Shah's two-day tour in the region begins with visit to Siddharoodamutt in Hubballi on Thursday (April 12) morning. He will then visit Dr Da Ra Bendre memorial at Sadhanakeri in Dharwad. He will also take part in BJP's protest against the Congress, in front of the deputy commissioner's office.

From Dharwad, Mr Shah will head towards Gadag district, and will attend the valedictory of 'Mushtidhanya' campaign at Abbigeri in Ron taluk. Later, he will visit Puttaraj Gawai Ashram and Veeranarayanswamy Temple in Gadag.

In the evening, Mr Shah will visit Moorusaviramutt in Hubballi, and will take part in a road show from the mutt to Durgadabail. After addressing a public meeting at Hebballi village in Dharwad taluk, he will hold an interaction with industrialists and traders in Hubballi in the night.

During his tour of Belagavi and Bagalkot districts on Friday (April 13), Mr Shah will also visit Kittur Chennamma memorial at Kittur and Sangolli Rayana memorial at Nandgadh, in addition to road show and other programmes.

'Cong losing existence'

Releasing Mr Shah's itinerary, Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar told media persons here on Wednesday that the protest to be held in Dharwad is against the Congress Party which is behaving in an anti-democratic manner in the Parliament and dividing the society.

"Congress Party is losing its existence, and it is trying to tarnish the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, unable to tolerate good governance practices being implemented by him. Congress government in the State is also No 1 in corruption," Mr Shettar said.

I have an information that Justice Kempanna Commission has indicted Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Arkavathy Layout denotification case, and therefore, the report is not tabled in the session of the Assembly. Caste census report for which more than Rs 200 crore was spent is also not disclosed, he said.

MP Pralhad Joshi lamented that the Congress is stalling the Parliament session proceedings, though the BJP is ready for debate. It is also spreading baseless rumours about the BJP's stand on reservation, though the BJP is always in favour of Dalits, he said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and KPCC president G Parameshwara are planning to contest from two constituencies in Assembly elections. Do they lack confidence, he asked, adding that Mr Shah's visit would bring more strength for the BJP workers in the district.

BJP leaders Ma Nagaraj, Eeranna Jadi, Mahesh Tenginkai, and others were present.