From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jun 2: Tourism and environment minister C P Yogeshwar, who has been in the media limelight after his Delhi visits and indirectly criticizing the alleged interference in the B S Yediyurappa government by his son B Y Vijayendra besides expressing his unhappiness, called on the pontiff of Adichunchanagiri Mutt Sri Nirmalananda Swamiji in Ramanagara on Wednesday and sought the Vokkaliga spiritual head’s blessings.
"There is no need to attach any special meaning or significance to my meeting the Adichunchanagiri Mutt pontiff," Yogeshwar told reporters.
"As I happened to be in Ramanagara, I called on the Adichunchangiri Mutt pontiff,’’ he said adding: "I will be meeting another three to four Swamijis.’’
Yogeshwar belongs to the politically powerful Vokkaliga community and the Adichunchanagiri Mutt holds sway among the Vokkaligas in the Old Mysuru region.
He mentioned that he had met the pontiff of JSS Mutt, which is one of the leading Mutt of the political powerful Lingayat community, in Mysuru on Monday.
"There is no need to attach any special meaning or impute motives to my meeting different pontiffs and seeking their blessings,’’ he said and added: "As this is a special occasion, media has noticed my meetings."
He, however, did not clarify what was the special occasion.
To a question on Yediyurappa’s son and state BJP vice president B Y Vijayendra’s sudden visit to Delhi, he said he had no information. "Anybody can visit Delhi," he quipped.
On the demand from some ministers and BJP leaders seeking a re-investigation into the Mega City housing project from which he had been let off earlier, Yogeshwar said he was "pained" by such comments.
"I am not aware of the political developments,’’ he said and wondered how his one statement (against the alleged interference of Vijayendra in the state government) gained so much publicity.
The minister also remarked: "I am in BJP and am working in the party to the best of my abilities. I cannot publicly answer all questions or speculations from the media.
He also made it clear that he did not have any big responsibilities in the Channarayapatna assembly constituency, from which he had lost in the last elections. "Fortunately, the Covid infection cases are coming down on a daily basis. But our primary focus to completely control the Covid pandemic,’’ he said.