BELAGAVI: The unveiling of the portrait of VD Savarkar at the Legislative Assembly hall of Suvarna Vidhan Soudha, Belagavi has triggered a controversy. Congress leaders headed by former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and KPCC President D K Shivakumar staged a protest at the entrance of the Soudha before the start of the 10-day winter session of the state legislature on Monday in protest.
The Congress leaders stated that Savarkar was in no way connected to Karnataka and that the BJP leadership raked up the Savarkar issue only to divert people's attention from core issues like the 40 per cent commission in public works, rampant corruption, failure of law and order situation, and more in the state.
A group of top Congress leaders displayed portraits of icons including Kuvempu, Shishunal Sharief and several others, demanding the government to also display their photos in the Legislative Assembly as well.
Addressing media persons during the protest, Shivakumar said, "Savarkar was a controversial person which all the people are aware of. The BJP leadership is trying to disturb the winter session by launching his portrait.
"Bommai and Kageri had informed us that the portraits of Gandhiji, Ambedkar and other personalities will be installed at the Soudha, but we came to know about the installation of Savarkar's portrait only through media today,'' he said.
Calling Bommai as a `King of liars,' Shivakumar said Bommai had lied to him and that he was not aware of the issue of the display of portraits at the Suvarna Vidhan Soudha. "The CM is a King of liars. Savarkar had joined hands with the Britishers and he had written a clemency petition to the British, admitting his mistakes,'' said Shivakumar.
Siddaramaiah also objected to the display of Savarkar's portrait and said the portraits of many other personalities who actually played a great role in history should be displayed at the Soudha instead.