Udupi— “To protect public faith, truth, and religious values, the Parashurama statue in Bailur must be rebuilt using genuine bronze,” asserted Karkala Congress leader Muniyalu Udayakumar Shetty, addressing reporters in Udupi.
He accused BJP MLA V. Sunil Kumar of deceiving the public by installing a fake Parashurama statue, which he claimed is not made of bronze. Citing police findings and expert opinions, Shetty demanded that the new statue be constructed after consulting religious scholars through the Ashtamangala ritual process.
“I’ve filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in court to ensure a proper bronze statue is installed. Sunil Kumar is clearly uneasy about this PIL. His opposition only reveals the guilt he carries for misleading the people,” Shetty said.
He alleged that the statue prepared over the past six months is also of inferior brass quality, further adding to the public’s disillusionment. “Instead of correcting his mistake, Sunil Kumar is now deflecting attention by promising to develop Ummikal Hill as a commercial venture,” Shetty remarked.
Going further, he accused Sunil Kumar of being “the most corrupt person in religious matters in the world,” and claimed that only his loyal followers still believe in him.
Shetty concluded by reaffirming his commitment to rebuilding a legitimate bronze statue of Parashurama in Bailur, despite opposition.