Mangalore: CM Eats and Stays in Simple House

Update: Saturday, Apr 28, 7-30 am

Mangalore: Chief minister, as reported already, visited the prayer-houses of three major religions on Friday in Ullal.

He visited St Sebastian's church at Tokkottu-Permannur, offered prayers and lit candles. He expressed his great appreciation for the service rendered by the Christian community in the development of the society and the nation. Frs Thomas D'Souza and Vishal Lobo welcomed him.

Next he visited the Shri Cheerumbha Bhagawati temple in Ullal and offered prayers. He was welcomed by DK zilla panchayat president Sushma Janardan, Chandrahas Ullal, Ishwar Ullal and others.

He later visited the 400-year-old Syed Shariful Madani dargah in Ullal and said the centre was a model for communal harmony, as he was welcomed by people of all religions.

Kumaraswamy also visited the Jain basadi where queen Abbakka of Ullal regularly offered prayers and also Shri Somanath temple at Someshwar.

Former minister Amaranath Shetty Kodman, party state vice president J S Noronha, Balraj Rai, MLA Jamir Ahmed and MLC Abdul Azeem and other JD(S) leaders were present.

He had food and stayed in a low-income household overnight.

Mangalore: Hindu, Muslim Aur Isa'ai, Sabko Mera Salaam - CM Kumaraswamy

Update: Friday April 27, 10-45 pm

Pics Dayanand Kukkaje

Obviously with a view to appeasing the deities of three major religions, chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, prior to his much-publicized stay in a madarasa in Ullal on the outskirts of the city, visited the Syed Madani dargah, a church and a temple here.

All communities might have been mighty pleased with the gesture on the part of the chief minister.

There still appears to be some confusion as to his exact place of stay, since two prominent Muslim leaders were exerting pressure on the CM to stay overnight at their respective houses.

Mangalore: CM Arrives in City to Stay in Madarasa - Holds Press Meet

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (GA) - pics - Dayanand Kukkaje

Mangalore, Apr 27: The much-anticipated visit of chief minister H D Kumaraswamy to the city in general and to Ullal in particular began on Friday April 27 evening.  Chief minister has arrived in the city to stay in a Madarasa near Ullal.

After arriving in the city, he held a press conference at the Press Club here on Friday evening.  He was welcomed at the Press Club by DK Working Journalists' Association president Ravindra Shetty.

Prominent JD (S) leaders were present along with the chief minister at the press meet.  CM said that his staying in Madarasa is not a political stunt.  "I have a lot of respect towards Muslims and towards Madarasa where they are educated to become men of substance," he said.

Though he said that his staying in madarasa has nothing to do with politics, it is quite sure that only political gains might have arranged this stay particularly in Ullal.  Following the demise of Ullal MLA U T Fareed, the constituency is gearing up for interim polls.  The elections commission has already announced the polls.  Accordingly, CM's coming to Ullal and staying in madarasa is nothing but a gimmick to appease the minority who form majority in this constituency where Fareed led the charge of Congress for long.

Secondly CM surely has a point to prove this time since his remarks about madarasas had drawn flak from a majority of section of the state.  Chief minister's statement that madarasas encourage terrorism had widely been criticized.  Following this, the chief minister had changed his plate and blamed it on media that the latter had misinterpreted his statement.  He had then even said that he would stay in madarasa to confirm that he had a lot of respect towards Muslims.

But reports reaching here said that though he had announced that he would stay in madarasa near Ullal Dargah here, owing to request from local JD (S) leaders has changed his mind and would stay in the house of one Attimolu near Ullal Dargah.  This report is yet to be confirmed but sources have made it clear that he will not be staying in madarasa on Friday.

But given his unpredictable nature in all that he does (he has been the first chief minister to stay in the houses of common people overnight) anything may happen.  That is why even the JD (S) leaders are not disclosing it whether he would stick to his guns and stay in madarasa or would reside in any other house as per the request of the local leaders.