Silvester D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Apr 5: "The central government led by BJP has been organizing income tax raids frequently for the purpose of bringing mental pressure on the candidates of the coalition partners and our family members who have been fighting this Lok Sabha election. The ulterior plans being attempted by the central government by misusing its power and by making use of departments in its control will never succeed," said Karnataka chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy.

He was speaking to media persons during his visit to the residence of an astrologer, Sokkottu Manjunathayya, resident of Saukoor Beedimane adjacent to Saukoor goddess Durgaparameshwari temple in the taluk on Thursday April 4. 

Kumaraswamy claimed that his family has full faith in the fact that election would be held in a free and fair way. "We will not be bogged down or worried by systematic raids being conducted. Since a month, although opposition parties have been seeking permission to use helicopters for election work, permission is not being given. Not only in Karnataka, but this situation prevails in Andhra Pradesh too," he remarked. He warned BJP that time will provide it a fitting reply to its belief that opposition parties can be decimated through anti-democratic policies.

The chief minister said that Mandya Lok Sabha election is being touted as high voltage fight just because of its glorification by a few electronic media. He also objected to giving too much publicity to the participation of cine actors in campaigning. "But the reality there is different. People have been treating this election as the previous ones. There has been a definite tilt of voters towards candidates fielded by coalition parties in constituencies like Mandya, Hassan, and Tumakuru and also where Congress candidates have been fielded. Frustrated at this trend, BJP has been plotting to win election through devious ways," he charged.

In reply to a question, he said that his father, H D Deve Gowda, had visited the residence of Sokkottu Manjunathayya at Saukoor in 1985 and that he had come now to get his blessings. He asked the media not to attach any special meaning to his visit to the astrologer's residence.

Speaking to media representatives, Manjunathayya said that he knows Bengaluru-based astrologer, Rajaguru Dwarakanath, since many years, and that the two keep discussing issues concerning religious issues and astrology. He said that the chief minister had visited him as per the advice of Dwarakanath.

MLC, S L Bhoje Gowda, JD(S) district president, Yogeesh Shetty, Kishore Ballal Kundapur, and Sablady Manjayya Shetty were present. 

CM visits Saukoor temple, offers puja

When state chief minister (CM), H D Kumaraswamy, visited Goddess Durgaparameshwari temple at Saukoor near here on the night of Thursday April 4, he was received with chanting of hymns. The CM, on his way back to Koppa after attending election campaigns in Uttara Kannada district, briefly visited Saukoor temple at the advice of a Bengaluru-based astrologer, paid obeisance to the goddess, and performed puja through the priests.

Villagers, who got to know about the CM's visit, were present in large numbers. They hailed Kumaraswamy when he reached the spot. The CM, who readily responded to the wishes of the villagers to meet him, walked to the protective cover provided by the police personnel and shook hands with the villagers.

MLC, S L Bhoje Gowda, Byndoor former MLA, K Gopal Poojary, district superintendent of police, Nisha James, additional superintendent of police, Kumarchandra, deputy superintendent of police, B P Dinesh Kumar, circle police inspector, Manjappa D R, sub-inspectors, Harish Naik and Sridhar Naik, JD(S) district president, Yogeesh Shetty, temple managing committee president, P Kishen Hegde, committee members, JD(S) and Congress leaders like Sablady Manjayya Shetty, Raju S Poojary, Kishore Ballal, Srikanth Adiga, Maruthi Kollur, H Raju Devadiga, Pradeep Shetty Gudibettu, Prashanth Poojary Hattiangady, Vijay Putran, Jayakumar Parkala, Zilla Panchayat member, Jyothi Naik, and others were present.