Villagers Stop BJP MP From Attending Temple Event; Know Why

Mysuru: Dalit villagers in Karnataka’s Mysuru district didn’t allow a BJP leader from participating in a foundation-laying event of a temple on Monday, ahead of the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya.

Former minister SR Mahesh and local MLA GT Devegowda were allowed to take part in the ceremony, but villagers of Gujjegowdanapura — which supplied the stone used to sculpt the Ram Lalla idol installed at Ayodhya Ram mandir — under Harohalli panchayat, were unhappy to see BJP MP Pratap Simha and asked him to leave as he had neglected them for a decade, reported The Indian Express.

“You have never visited the village in 10 years and you are here now for political reasons. Other elected representatives, including BJP MLAs, have come here and been involved. You never bothered to listen to us, and we do not want you to come here,” taluk panchayat member Suresh told Simha, who represents Mysuru-Kodagu constituency in the Lok Sabha.

“During Mahisha Dasara last year, Pratap Simha spoke against the community and its leaders. Some of our villagers were also arrested at his behest. He never cared to visit the village or address our issues. But now, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, he came here from nowhere,” Swamy Harohalli, a villager, told The Indian Express.

Faced with villagers’ ire, Simha left the venue soon after his arrival.

Simha, who was in the news last month for providing visitors’ pass to one of the persons who stormed into Lok Sabha, blamed Monday’s incident on Congress workers.

“Just four miscreants created the ruckus and they are Congress workers. I am against Mahisha Dasara even now. Congress cannot defeat me in this Lok Sabha elections which is why they are making such drama. I am not perturbed at all,” he said.