Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Oct 15: Congress leader Prasad Raj Kanchan and trustee of Ucchila Mahalakshmi Temple, has firmly denied recent social media allegations suggesting that the temple’s felicitation of a local Muslim businessman during the Ucchila Dasara celebration was politically motivated and harmful to the Hindu community. He has pledged to pursue legal action against those spreading these false claims.

In a press conference held on October 15, Kanchan explained that the controversy arose after temple authorities recognised the contributions of a bus owner who provided free transportation for devotees attending the festival. “Following the felicitation, an edited photo of me circulated online, implying that I had invited a Muslim businessman for the ceremony and that this harmed Hindu beliefs,” he stated.

Kanchan clarified, “I participated in the procession, but I was not aware of the felicitation for the bus owner. The decision to honour individuals who support the temple’s activities lies with the temple working committee. This has been misrepresented as a political maneuver, and I strongly deny these allegations. I will take legal action against those who spread misinformation to harm the temple and the Hindu community.”

He further emphasised that the issue is being politicised, with attempts to link the chief minister to the incident in a bid to tarnish the temple's reputation, which has been built through public contributions.

Addressing allegations related to a private bank fraud case, Kanchan noted, “Customers claimed that loans of Rs 20,000 were falsely recorded as Rs 2 lac, leading to inflated recovery demands. As a social worker, I cannot ignore such significant issues and will take action based on verified documentation.”

The press conference was attended by Manoj Karkera, secretary of the Deep Sea Fishing Committee, and Naveen Bangera, president of the Congress Brahmavar Block Fisheries Unit.