Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia (SP)

Sullia, Dec 17: After several contradictory statements were made by ministers and other leaders, the government, in an official statement, said that it is committed to stop the practice of Made Made Snana at Subrahmanya temple in the taluk. In a statement made in the state assembly on Friday December 16, parliamentary affairs minister, Suresh Kumar, said that the government will hold discussions with the opposition parties on this issue to arrive at a consensus on the methodology for enforcing this ban.

Replying to discussions held under rule 68, the minister asked the legislators to keep in mind the affects of enforcing a ban on the practice all of a sudden on ardent devotees of the temple. He felt that there is a need to hold detailed discussions on whether to place the ban through legal enforcement, or whether it should be achieved through change of mind.

Earlier to this statement, in a heated debate, opposition leaders, Siddaramaiah, opposition members, V Srinivasa Prasad, H C Mahadevappa, independent legislators, Gulihatti Shekhar, P M Narendra Swamy etc dubbed the practice as evil and demanded for placing a blanket ban on it.

Angara representing Sullia constituency drew the attention of the legislators to the fact that the district administration had made up its mind to ban Made Made Snana in the temple, but that it had to go back because of protests undertaken by local Malekudiyas, who play an important role in the festivities related to Lord Subrahmanya Temple. He therefore expressed the opinion that the ban should come through transformation of the minds of local people.