From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, May 8: Taunting the State BJP leaders for their false propaganda to corner the Congress government, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has asked a tough question to them: Why are you giving a stick in our hands and getting repeatedly beaten up?

Taking the State BJP leaders R Ashok, B Y Vijayendra and others head on regarding their criticism for appointing Muslim community’s leader Nawaz as a member of the Brahmothsava Committee of the Avimukteshwara Swamy temple in Hoskote in Bengaluru Rural District, Siddaramaiah pointed out that BJP government had appointed leaders of the Muslim community to the same Brahmothsava committee in 2020 and 2022.

“Why have you forgotten what your own governments did in 2020 and 2022 to the temple’s Brahmothsava committee? The BJP leaders, who are incensed over the appointment of leaders of the minority Muslim committee to the temple’s Brahmothsava Committee, have conveniently forgotten what BJP governments have done in the past and thus are exposing their bigotry and false Hindutva pride,” the Chief Minister has said in the social media platform X.

Siddaramaiah ridiculed the BJP leaders for their own over-zealous Hindutva pride and honour and reminded the BJP leaders that the Avimukteshwara Swamy temple in Hoskote in Bengaluru Rural District is known for its equal treatment and respect for all religious communities.

“The temple is a glowing example of the Hindu religious practice and precept of the religion of treating people belonging to all religions equally with respect. The temple is known for inviting people of all religious communities in their all religious programmes,” he said.

He said the BJP, which was in power in 2020, had appointed Imtiaz Pasha as a member of the temple’s Brahamrathothsava committee.

“I will never stoop to the level of BJP leaders to level allegations that the appointment of Muslims to the temple’s religious committees as part of the plan to allow the Muslims to loot the wealth of Hindu temples,” he said denouncing the BJP of treating everything in its saffron prism.

“I can only hope and wish that you (State BJP leaders) and your Supreme Leader Narendra Modi quickly recovers from the anti-Muslim phobia,” he said.

Siddaramaiah taunted the State BJP leaders and asked them to withdraw their misleading statements aimed at polarizing society 'if they have any self-respect' and also apologise to the State’s Kannadigas known for their secular outlook and attitude.