Puttur: Attempting to put an end to the controversy around his name in Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple Puttur annual festival invitation, Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim has said that he would not get into analysing the issue at all.
Addressing a grievances meet in Puttur, the DC said that it was a normal practice to include the name of the DC in the invitations of the programes held in organisations and departments that come under the purview of the DC and this is being done since many years keeping aside all the attributes of religion, caste, creed etc.
“Even in the past my name has been included in various temple events. When I was the Mysuru Municipal Commissioner I had served as Special Officer for Dussera festival and my name was printed on Chamundeshwari Temple invitations as well. Recently, even Kukke Subramanya Temple invite had my name,” he said adding that his name in Puttur temple invite is not a lapse on anybody’s part and that the issue need not be given importance.
He further said that if someone has problem with his name being printed in the invitations, they can send in complaints to him in writing, which he would forward to the Endowment and Muzrai Department.
“The Department will take final decision,” he said urging the devotee not to drag the issue on streets. “Let the devotees not stage protests and rastha roko over this issue,” the DC urged.
Meanwhile, devotees took out a protest rally from Mahalingeshwara Temple to Mini Vidhana Soudha building opposing the printing of DC A B Ibrahim’s name on temple annual festival invitation.
The annual festival will be held from April 10 to 20.
Hindu Jagran Vedike Pranth Sanchalak Sathyajith Surathkal said that if Ibrahim believes in Hindu religion, religious practices and has faith on Mahalingeshwara only then his name in the temple invitations makes sense.
A section of society had raised objection to DC A B Ibrahim’s name being mentioned in the invitation. The issue has taken religious colour as the protesters have been opposing the same on religious grounds.
