Shah demanded airport naming, ticket for seer, at Siddaroodha mutt

Naming Hubballi Airport after Sri Siddharooda Swamiji and giving ticket to Sri Paramarooda Swamiji to contest from Bilagi constituency (Bagalkot district) were the demands placed before BJP National President Amit Shah, when he visited Siddharoodamutt here on Thursday.

Before starting the second leg of his campaign in the Mumbai-Karnataka region, Amit Shah visited Siddharodamutt, a popular spiritual centre in the region.

Accompanied by State BJP President B S Yeddyurappa and other BJP leaders, Mr Shah was welcomed by women, with Poornakumbha.

Shah performed Pooja at the Gadduge of Sri Siddharooda Swamiji and Sri Gurunatharooda Swamiji. He was later felicitated by Sri Siddharoodaswamy Mutt Trust Committee office-bearers, at Kailas Mantap.

Due the visit of the VVIP, devotees' entry to Sri Siddharoodaswamy Samadhi Mandir was closed for one hour.

Shah's visit was scheduled at 9:40 am, and he came late at 10:45 am. He was at Siddharoodamutt premises for 15 minutes. In addition to local police, Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel were also deployed for security.

It may be recalled here that AICC chief Rahul Gandhi was also supposed to visit Siddharoodamutt during his recent visit to Hubballi, and the visit was cancelled at the last moment, after he visited a church and a dargah.

Demand

Sri Siddharoodaswamy Mutt Trust Committee submitted a memorandum to Mr Shah, to take steps to name Hubballi Airport after Sri Siddharooda Swamiji.

Shah was also urged to arrange Rs 30 lakh funds for the construction of Prasada Nilaya and Rs 20 lakh for the construction of toilets and bathrooms at the mutt premises.

Seer seeks ticket

Sri Paramarooda Swamiji of Seemikeri in Bagalkot district submitted a memorandum to Shah, seeking BJP ticket to contest from Bilagi constituency.

"I have already campaigned in 130 villages, and have forwarded an application for BJP ticket, to the party's state and national leaders. Earlier, I have worked for the victory of the BJP candidate in the constituency," he said.

Sri Siddharoodaswamy Mutt Trust Committee chairman D D Malagi, honorary secretary S I Kolakur, seers and others were present.

BJP slogans at mutt

At Siddharoodamutt, which is considered a secular mutt where Om Namah Shivaya is chanted always, slogans in favour of Narendra Modi and BJP were raised by party workers when Amit Shah visited the mutt. This irked several devotees.

Sri Siddharoodaswamy Mutt Trust committee former trustee and BJP leader Ranga Baddi stated that the party had no role in slogan mongering, admitting that somebody in the crowd must have raised slogans.

Sri Siddharoodaswamy Mutt Trust Committee chairman D D Malagi opined that raising such slogans at the mutt premises was not appropriate.

DH News Service