CM performs special puja at temple

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy participated in special puja rituals held under the guidance of Ganesh Somaya, at Umamaheshwara Temple, at Kudinalli near Kammaradi in Koppa taluk on Friday.

As the chief minister was partaking in the puja rituals, the entry of public to the temple was prohibited. Police had placed a barricade near the temple. The puja rituals are held for two days.

When the media tried to click photographs, the police prevented them from doing so. The police said “The chief minister has asked not to allow mediapersons inside. A board has also been mounted banning the use of mobilephone at the spot.”

Local residents said, “We used to visit the temple often. As the chief minister has visited the temple, our entry to the temple was prohibited on Friday.”

As it was a private programme of JD(S) supremo Deve Gowda and his family members, even the party leaders were not allowed inside, said a JD(S) leader.

The police had strengthened security in and around the temple. ASP Shruthi and DySP Ravindranath were at the spot.