A recent statement by Karnataka Congress leader equating Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to Lord Ram created a stir in the state on Tuesday. Former Karnataka Minister Holalkere Anjaneya compared Siddaramaiah to Lord Ram and said the idol installed inside the sanctum sanctorum in Ayodhya would be 'BJP's Ram'. Soon after Anjaneya's statement, BJP hit out at him and accused him of having an anti-Hindu stand.
Addressing the reporters, Anjaneya said, "He (Siddaramaiah) is our Ram. Why should he visit Ayodhya for the consecration event? He could pay obeisance at his native village which has a Ram temple."
"Why should he go there (Ram Temple in Ayodhya)? The idol that is to be installed there is the BJP's Ram. They are only sending out invites to BJP people and singing bhajans (devotional songs). So let them do that. Our Ram is everywhere, he is in our hearts," he said, as per a report on ANI. The statement of Anjaneya comes after CM Siddaramaiah said that he has not decided on attending the event since he did not receive a formal invitation to the consecration ceremony at Ram Temple this month.
Reacting to Anjaneya's comment, BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal hit out at the former Minister and dubbed his statement as Anti-Hindu. The BJP leader said, "It is the misfortune of the state that such idiots, nepotists, anti-Hindu have been ministers of the state in the past !!! Let the puja deeds of Siddaramaiah, the revered deity of Anjaneyappa Nava, take place in his house in every way. Stop talking about Lord Rama, the idol of Hindus and act with dignity and respect."