BELAGAVI: Various Kannada organizations are angry about MLAs Laxmi Hebbalkar, Ramesh Jarkiholi and former Belagavi rural MLA Sanjay Patil for unveiling the Shivaji statue at Rajhansagad fort in Belagavi rural constituency twice.
The 36-feet-tall Shivaji statue was inaugurated by chief minister Bommai on March 2 in the presence of BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi who has been campaigning against his political foe Laxmi Hebbalkar. During the ceremony Bommai had described the statue as a BJP project, in a bid to woo Marathi voters. Hebbalkar was absent in the event.
As the statue comes under her Belagavi Rural constituency, Hebbalkar unveiled it again on March 5 in the presence of thousands of Congress workers.
Members of Kannada outfits saw both events as a way of wooing Marathi voters in the district. The activists are questioning both political leaders for showing so much interest in wooing Marathi people, despite being elected by Kannada voters.
Ashok Chandargi a senior Kannada activist told TOI, “We always respect Shivaji Maharaj as he is the pride of our nation. But these leaders are building a rift between Kannada and Marathi people in district. The statue unveiling ceremonies show that they were purely political acts aimed to get votes of Marathi ahead of the assembly elections.”
“These leaders must show similar interest in the rejuvenation of Rani Channamma’s birthplace of Kakati village in Belagavi, and the statue of Basavanna at Hirebagewadi which was damaged. Despite our several pleas, no government have not heeded to our demands,” he added.
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