The pontiffs of Vokkaliga mutts on Wednesday warned both the Congress and the BJP at the Centre against "destabilising" the JDS-Congress coalition government in Karnataka.
Speaking on the occasion of the 508th Kempegowda Jayanti celebrations organised by the state government, Sri Nanjaavadhoota Swami of Sphatikapuri Math in Tumkur urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to support Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's "pro-people" programmes and the JDS-Congress coalition government or be prepared to face major backlash from the Vokkaliga community.
"Union Minister Sadananda Gowda is absent today. However, I would like to convey a message to Modi that the community had opposed the ouster of Sadananda Gowda as CM. But this time, if Kumaraswamy's government is targeted, the community will not be forgiving," warned Swami, adding that the community was aware of another Vokkaliga leader D.K. Shivakumar's suffering after he played a crucial role in the formation of the coalition government.
Sri Kumara Chandrashekaranatha Swami of Vokkaliga mutt in Kengeri, who shared dais with Nirmalanandanatha Swami of the powerful Adichunchungiri Mutt and Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, hailed Congress leader and Water resources minister Shivakumar for "keeping his word" on making Kumaraswamy the chief minister in case of a hung verdict.
"I express my gratitude to Shivakumar on behalf of the Vokkaliga community and at the same time entrust him with the responsibility of ensuring that Kumaraswamy completes a full five-year term as CM," said Chandrashekaranatha Swami.
Hailing Kempegowda, the architect of Bengaluru city, as secular and a visionary, the pontiffs urged the state government to put up a portrait of him across all government offices, rename the Metro train service as "Namma Kempegowda Metro", build a Kempegowda Soudha on the lines of Vidhana Soudha and to develop the forts built by the iconic ruler into tourism sites.
"Kempegowda was an inclusive leader who built Bengaluru to benefit all communities, developed layouts for every community to promote local trade and businesses. He mooted Make-in-Karnataka, some 500 years ago, like Modi is pitching for Make-in-India now," said the Pontiff of Kengeri Mutt, who added that all great buildings were built by Vokkaligas in the state.
"Vidhana Soudha was built by Kengal Hanumnathaiah, Vikas Soudha by S.M. Krishna, Suvarna Soudha by Kumaraswamy. So, we want a Kempegowda Soudha to be built by Kumaraswamy on the lines of Sardar Patel statue in Gujarat," he added.
Nirmalanandanatha Swami reminded that Kempegowda was not an icon of the community alone but of the entire state.
"In the age of globalisation, liberalisation and privatisation, we must ensure our younger generations learn about great visionary and statesman Kempegowda, who was secular in his values and promoted all-inclusive development."
Kumaraswamy announced that a new skill development university, named after Kempegowda, would be set up to generate employment for the youth. "It will be a good tribute to the icon. I also recall the contribution of Vokkaliga community which gave up it's lands for the development of Bengaluru into a global city. I understand that the entire world is keenly watching the political development in our state as Bengaluru not only attracts investors from across the globe, but also generates 60-65% of the state's revenue. It is the government's responsibility to safeguard the city," said the chief minister.