Rama Temple in Karnataka announced for people, not politics: Basavaraj Bommai

Bommai hoped that everyone will extend cooperation, and no one will oppose the project.

“If someone wants to oppose, let them. I won’t object, but Rama Mandira will certainly come up there,” he added.

Also read: Bommai announces schemes for women, children in budget

Opposition lashes out

Soon after the chief minister made the announcement in the budget on Friday, state Congress president DK Shivakumar said, “There is a small temple there already, what is there for them (ruling BJP) to construct now? Let them construct their party office there in Ramanagara first.”

JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy said, “If they (BJP) had announced it three years ago when they came to power and constructed the temple, I would have appreciated it. Now, when the election is around they have announced. It will remain in the budget book itself.”

If a Rama temple is to be built, the ruling BJP cannot do it, he asserted, while claiming: “I know who will form the next government, so I will have to do it.”

Ramanagara, part of the Vokkaliga-dominated Old Mysuru region, is not considered among the BJP’s strongholds. It is considered a JD(S) bastion, where Congress is also strong.

While Ramanagara is the home district of Shivakumar, it is also the ‘karma bhoomi’ of Kumaraswamy. While the latter is MLA from the district’s Channapatna segment, his wife Anitha Kumaraswamy represents the neighbouring Ramanagara seat.

Kumaraswamy is seeking re-election from Channapatana, while his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy will be facing polls from Ramanagara.

Funds not allocated

Even though the chief minister, who is also the finance minister, announced the Rama temple in the budget, he did not allocate any grants for its construction.

“We have only announced the construction of a Rama temple in Ramanagara. The funds for the project have not been announced as the detailed project report (DPR) is yet to be prepared,” Bommai told reporters.

“After the DPR is submitted. We will allocate grants in the supplementary budget for the temple,” he added.

It can be recalled that Ramanagara district in-charge minister CN Ashwath Narayan had urged the chief minister to constitute a development committee to build a temple there on the lines of the Sri Rama temple in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh.

Related: ‘Majestic’ Rama temple, ₹100 crore for Anjanadri, ₹1000 crore for Mathas

Kivi Mele Hoova

Chief Minister Bommai also hit out at the Congress’ “Kivi Mele Hoova” (flower on the ears) campaign against the state budget. ‘Flower on ears’ is a symbolic statement in Kannada, which means making someone a fool.

“Let them (Congress) keep flowers on their ears permanently. They used to keep flowers in the ears of the people till now, by not keeping up the promises they used to make during their budgets. Siddaramaiah (Congress leader and former CM) is a “maatu tappida maga” (a son who did not keep up his words),” he said.

Targeting Siddaramaiah for not fulfilling the promises made during his budgets, the chief minister said, “He had promised to give 10 kg free rice, then he brought it down to four kg, and when the election came, he made it 7 kg, cheating people. So, a situation will come for them (the Congress) to keep the flowers permanently on their ears,” he added.

Opposition leader Siddaramaiah and other Congress leaders, including Shivakumar, came to the assembly with flowers on their ears alleging that the BJP government has “cheated people and made them fools” by not fulfilling promises from the previous budget and the promises made in the 2018 election manifesto.

(With inputs from PTI)