The members of the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) on Friday staged a protest outside the municipal corporation office in Karnataka's Hubballi seeking permission to install an idol of Lord Ganesh at Idgah Maidan for the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. A video shared by ANI shows BJP leader Mahesh Tenginakai along with supporters protesting outside the civic body office. State Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwara has said that it is up to local authorities to give permission for the same.
"We have left it to the local authorities to give permission to install Ganesh idols," the minister said, as quoted by ANI.
Reacting to the incident, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge said no one has been denied permission. ""Who said they are denying?... Denial is when you ask for something and it is not given to you and if they have given it in writing...Where have they denied? Can you show me any document?...As of now, there is no such denial on the permission..," he said.
This comes as the debate over 'Sanatan Dharmall' has taken centre stage in politics across the country with BJP training the guns on the entire opposition.
Speaking on the same, Priyank Kharge on Thursday reacted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks that opposition I.N.D.I.A bloc posed a threat to 'Sanatana Dharma.' He said that Sanatana Dharma has survived for more than 3,500 years and it does not require anybody's support for survival.
Speaking to ANI, Kharge said, "PM Modi is free to say whatever he wants to but there are more pressing issues that he should concentrate on. People are accusing him of rigging the economic growth of the country...Sanatana Dharma has survived for more than 3500 years & will survive for another 3,500 years. It does not require anybody to support it."
Meanwhile, Goa Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai called the entire dispute 'unwanted' adding that it has been 'willfully' made in the southern part of India.
"Gandhiji and all other national leaders stood for dharma...This is an unwanted dispute willfully made in the southern part of India. It is unfortunate and unwanted..," he added.