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Shettar showers Rs. 17 cr on unrelenting rain gods
It seems, when the new It seems, when the new Karnataka CM Jagdish Shettar sought a Rs. 2,000-crore central assistance for drought relief three days ago, he was also budgeting for the pay-off to the rain gods.sought a Rs. 2,000-crore central assistance for drought relief three days ago, he was also budgeting for the pay-off to the rain gods.
It seems, when the new Karnataka CM Jagdish Shettar sought a Rs. 2,000-crore central assistance for drought relief three days ago, he was also budgeting for the pay-off to the rain gods.
Faced with the possibility of a severe drought, the BJP government has drawn up a Rs. 17-crore plan to conduct prayers in 34,000 temples across the state. Each temple has been sanctioned Rs. 5,000 to perform special prayers on July 27 and August 2 to appease the rain gods.
On Thursday, Muzrai (religious endowment) minister Kota Shreenivasa Poojary issued a circular, a copy of which is with HT, directing deputy commissioners and other officials to make arrangements for the Varuna Mantra Jalabhisheka Puja.
The circular says, "The order has been issued to perform special pujas at the Muzrai temples in the state to pray for good rain to solve the drought problem."
On Friday, the issue resonated in the state assembly. Lambasting the government and the minister, opposition leader Siddaramaiah said, "The government is trying to promote superstition and wasting public money. It has to find ways to solve the problems arising of rain deficit through scientific means."
He demanded the order be withdrawn immediately.
JDS leader MC Nanaiah said instead of pujas, the government should spend the money on drought relief.
The move came for criticism from other quarters, as well. Noted Kannada writers UR Ananthamurthy and Chandrashekhar Patil (Champa) panned the "sarkari puja".
"The BJP government is always into such activities. Some people will marry off frogs and donkeys to pray to the rain god, but the government doing such pujas is certainly a shame. These leaders are trying to make money, as the government is counting its days in Karnataka," said Patil.
