Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Dec 1: After the controversy of renaming Surathkal Circle as Veer Savarkar, now one more new controversy of similar nature has cropped up in Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC).
In the general meeting of MCC Congress and BJP exchanged verbal duel with regards to erecting Shivaji statue. Congress party’s objection was finally recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
Opposition leader Naveen D’Souza spoke on the issue and said, “In Pumpwell there is Kalasha of Bhagawan Mahaveera and the circle is named as Mahaveera Circle. People of Maharashtra are painting buses of Karnataka in black paint as sign of protest. Is there need of Shivaji statue here?”
Bhaskarchandra Shetty, Shwetha A and Manohar Shetty severely objected Naveen D’Souza’s view and said, “You always oppose Hindu leaders. What is the harm if the statue of Shivaji, who united is erected? Do not limit Shivaji to Maharashtra.”
Shashidhar Hegde said, “We are not anti-hindu. Give up emotional issues and work on development. What is the contribution of Shivaji to Mangaluru city? We can erect the statues of our own people like Kayyara, Karnad or K S Hegde no? If possible you construct the statue of historical icons like Koti Chennayya.”
Chief whip Premananda Shetty intervened and said that no one objected in the last general meeting of MCC. However, as the opposition is objecting it can be recorded.