Lens on DKS’ statue of Christ

■ Several state BJP leaders term it as ‘appeasement politics’

Bengaluru, Dec. 27: A row broke out in Karnataka on Friday over senior Congress leader D. K. Shivakumar sponsoring construction of a 114foot statue of Jesus Christ, with the ruling BJP terming it as an appeasement policy and the state government seeking a report from authorities on the status of the land earmarked for the project.

According to state revenue minister R. Ashoka, the land, said to have been purchased for constructing the statue, is not owned by Shivakumar and it is a government ‘gomala’ land (pasture land for community use).

The proposed 101-foot statue atop a 13-foot pedestal is coming up at Kapalibetta in Harobele village, a predominantly Christian locality in Kanakapura, Shivakuma’s Assembly constituency, about 80 km from here.

The office of Shivakumar stated that utilising his own funds he had purchased 10 acres of land at Kapalibetta from the government for the trust that is constructing the statue

The office also claimed it would become the tallest monolithic statue of Jesus in the world.

On December 25, Shivakumar had laid the foundation at a prayer meet and handed over the title deed for the project.

Speaking on the ownership of the land, Ashoka said “It is not Shivakumar’s property, it is government gomala land, I don’t know in what sense he (Shivakumar) has said he has purchased and given it. No one can donate it to any one. I have sought a report from the district deputy commissioner of Ramanagara.”

Amid references in the social media to

Kapalibetta as “Yesubetta” , the minister said, “For thousands of years it has been known as Kapalibetta, and for no reason we will allow its name to be changed,” he said, adding the land was given for the sake of development and not to hand over it to others.

Earlier in the day, Shivakumar drew flak from several BJP leaders, who termed the project, as ‘appeasement politics’ to remain in the good books of his party high command. Coming down heavily on Shivakumar, rural development minister K. S. Eshwarappa tweeted, “To impress the leader, those in the Congress, who opposed the construction of a grand temple dedicated to Lord Ram, born in our holy country, are going to build from their own money a statue of Jesus, who was born in the Vatican.”

“Even Siddaramaiah cannot stop him (Shivakumar) from becoming KPCC President now,” he added.

Shivakumar is seen as one among the front runner for the post of KPCC president which was vacated by Dinesh Gundu Rao, considered Siddaramaiah’s confidant, after the party’s rout in the December 5 Assembly bypolls.

Former Union minister and BJP MP Anantkumar Hegde too took on the issue and tweeted “Here is the Tihar returned great man who, for the sake of a position, is seeking to please the Italian woman by setting up a huge Jesus statue, thus displaying his gallantry. It will not be a surprise if more slaves within the Congress compete with each other to do appeasement politics.”

“The Italian woman gives importance to only those who have converted to Christianity. Congress leaders should, at least now, introspect and reject the mindset of slavery in their party and come out,” he stated in another tweet.

Another BJP MP from Mysuru, Partap Simha, questioned the motive behind installing the 114foot statue and demanded to know whether it was a scheme to convert Vokkaligas of Kanakapura.

THE OFFICE of Shivakumar stated that utilising his own funds, he had purchased 10 acres of land at Kapalibetta from the government for the trust that is constructing the statue.

THE OFFICE also claimed it would become the tallest monolithic statue of Jesus in the world.