Shivaji, Rayanna statues vandalised: Karnataka CM Bommai says, ’culprits won’t be spared’

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Dec 18, 2021: Tensions flared up in Karnataka’s Belagavi district following the news of the desecration of Shivaji Maharaj statue in Bengaluru. This led to crowds vandalising the statue of freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna and sporadic incidents of stone pelting at government vehicles.

 

Karanata Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai condemned the incidents and directed Home Minister Araga Jnanendra to take strict action against the culprits. As many as 27 people have been arrested in both the vandalism incidents.

"Incidents like stone pelting, causing damage to public property and government vehicles is illegal, so police have been directed to take long-term measures, so that such incidents don’t recur," the CM told reporters in Hubballi, PTI reported.

On Saturday, the president of Sangolli Rayanna Sene Shivaraj Holimath had complained to the Tilakwadi police that the freedom fighter’s statue that was not yet installed and kept in front of his house had been damaged. He claimed some people desecrated the statue on Friday night and fled from the scene when an alarm was raised.

According to the police, the statue has been shifted to Tilakwadi police station and security has been increased.

Meanwhile, the police clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC from 8 am on December 18 to 6 pm on December 19 following the two incidents. The order is applicable to both the city and taluk areas of Belagavi.
Former Karnataka Chief Ministers B S Yediyurappa, Siddaramaiah, H D Kumaraswamy, and state Congress chief D K Shivakumar condemned the incidents and appealed to people to maintain peace.

On the other hand, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray demanded "immediate action" from the Karnataka government and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the matter.

"PM Modi should direct the Karnataka government to take action in the matter. This incident (alleged desecration of the statue) cannot be taken lightly. For several years, Marathi-speaking people in Karnataka have been facing atrocities. Now, the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is desecrated," Thackeray said in a statement.

The Shiv Sena leader said Shivaji Maharaj is the "deity" of not only Maharashtra but of the entire country and any disrespect to the founder of the Maratha empire would not be tolerated.

Following the desecration of 17th Century king Shivaji Maharaj’s statue in the Karnataka capital, a crowd hurled stones at police and government vehicles in Belagavi around Friday midnight.