Laxmi Hebbalkar didn’t hold a single preparatory meeting ahead of the Paryaya celebrations, says Udupi BJP president

Taking a dig at Udupi District Congress unit for demanding action against Udupi Deputy Commissioner T K Swaroopa for flagging off the Paryaya procession by waving a saffron flag, Udupi District BJP President Kuthyar Naveen Shetty on Wednesday asked how many preparatory meetings had district in-charge Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar conducted ahead of the celebrations.

In a statement in Udupi, Mr. Shetty said it has been the tradition for the past several decades that the district in-charge minister or a government representative flagged off the Paryaya celebrations of Udupi Krishna Mutt. Ms. Hebbalkar, who was visiting Udupi as a guest, did not hold a single preparatory meeting for the current Paryaya celebrations.

He further said, “Ms. Hebbalkar has insulted people of Udupi district by staying away from the Paryaya celebrations, a major festival of coastal Karnataka.“ If Ms. Hebbalkar was to flag off the procession with a saffron flag, what would have been the reaction of the district Congress, he mused.

Mr. Shetty said it was shameful that the Congress government, which is following a step-motherly attitude by not providing any development grant for the district, was attempting to reap petty political gains from a religious programme. He demanded the Congress, which has hurt the religious beliefs of millions of devotees by creating unnecessary controversy, clarify its stance on the saffron flag.

He cautioned of laying siege to the district Congress office if the government takes any action against Ms. Swaroopa as demanded by the party.

Poojary defends DC

Udupi-Chikmagalur Member of Parliament Kota Srinivas Poojary in a statement said the Congress, that has a history of indulging in politics of minority appeasement has again attempted to malign Hindu festivities of Udupi. The DC, as the administrator of Udupi City Municipal Council, has discharged her duty.

“While the Paryaya festivities concluded on a grand note and drew the attention of the whole State, the Congress was attempting to malign the festivities. Congress, which did not release any funds as per the customary practice for infrastructure improvement ahead of the Paryaya, has no moral right to question the DC,” he added.

Sentiments hurt

Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta in a statement said the Congress has hurt public feelings, religious sentiments and constitutional values at the same time by painting the flagging off as communal, by calling the flag an RSS flag and by casting aspersions on an official.