Madikeri: Virajpet MLA K G Bopaiah has instructed area Tahsildar and Zilla Panchayth CEO to evict the statues including that of Jesus from an agricultural field at Boodimala village near Heggala of Virajpet taluk on August 1.
The statue has to be removed by the evening of August 2 to ensure peace and harmony in the area, said MLA K G Bopaiah. He asked Virajpet Tahsildar Govinaraju, Taluk Panchayat CEO Padnekar and DySP Nagappa to coordinate the statue eviction process.
John D’Souza, a resident of Boodimala village had installed few statues including that of Jesus in the agricultural field without taking permission from the village authorities concerned and villagers consent, it is learnt. Agitated by the move, villagers led by ZP member Appachanda Mahesh Ganapati protested against the installation of statues and demanded their eviction immediately. MLA Bopaiah’s diktat to revenue and ZP officials is in response to these protests.
Speaking on the occasion, MLA Bopaiah said, “No individual can take unilateral decision to install statues without taking prior permission. A single person is posing law problems against the villagers’ wishes violating the norms set by the priests of the community.
We adore all Gods but cannot incite people’s religious feelings on sensitive issues and the government is promoting divide and rule policy, MLA Bopaiah alleged.
Government allotted the land for Hindu burial ground in Maletirake Hills initially and facilitated the construction of a mosque later. The chief minister will be totally responsible for all untoward incidents, MLA Bopaiah warned.
It may be noted Heggala is a small pocket with substantial Christian population. Recently Heggala became a full-fledged parish with the increase in the number of christian devotees.
If one really goes by the rule book on statues/idol installations/other religious structures, the state administration may run out of clues to tackle the “sensitive issue” that is plaguing several parts of the state where religious structures pop up overnight and attain “permanent status” with ease within a short span!
Isn’t it time for some introspection irrespective of religious affiliation?
