Bengaluru: Backing the removal of Hanuman Dhwaj from a flagpost at a village in Mandya district by the local administration, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said he is a Hindu and believes in co-existence and tolerance.
“I am a Hindu and I love all people. I believe in co-existence and tolerance,” he told reporters here.
Siddaramaiah blamed the BJP and the JDS for creating unnecessary issues in the run-up to the Lok Sabha election.
The Chief Minister said permission was only granted to hoist a national or a state flag, hence the district administration has taken appropriate action to bring down the Hanuman Dhwaj.
“Elections are coming, therefore, BJP is making this as a political issue,” he said.
The controversy erupted after the Mandya administration removed Hanuman Dhwaj from a flagpost located in Keragodu village in the district with the help of police.
The Hanuman Dhwaj was replaced with the national flag. Subsequently, BJP and JDS workers yesterday staged a protest, branding the ruling Congress party as anti-Hindu.
Today, both parties took out a padayatra in Mandya and Bengaluru to protest against the state government’s decision to remove Hanuman Dhwaj.
The padayatra began from Keragodu village, where the Hanuma Dhwaj was removed, to the District Collector’s office.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the protesters are free to do politics, but should not take law into their hands.
“They should have basic common sense. Let them do politics, not take the law into their hands. We respect all religions. We can’t allow anyone to take the law into their hands. They want to do politics. Let them do,” he told reporters.
In the prevailing tense circumstances, the police have deployed their personnel and clamped prohibitory orders to prevent any untoward incidents and clashes between groups.
