Udupi visit: Will Kuruba diktat buckle CM Siddaramaiah?

Udupi: Will he? Will he not? This question about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's visit to the much-revered Krishna math in this pilgrim centre and seat of Dwaitha philosophy on Sunday has unsettled local Congress leaders and residents alike, given the leader's long-standing antipathy towards the seers. 

On Sunday, Mr Siddaramaiah would accompany President Pranab Mukherjee to unveil the foundation stone for a hospital planned by businessman B.R. Shetty. This event would be followed by Mr Mukherjee's visit to the math, but whether the CM would go along, ending his 12 year-long face-off with the seers,  seems unclear.  

Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji of Pejawar Math said an official invitation has been sent to Mr Siddaramaiah to visit the math. “We have invited him. He has not responded. There is no reason for him to be unhappy with us,” he told the media.  

Congress leaders, too, are keen that Mr Siddaramaiah visit the math. Mr Siddaramaiah's stand-off with the seers dates back to 2005 when along with other leaders of Kuruba community, he opposed the demolition of “Kanaka Gopura” inside the temple. As deputy CM in the coalition led by CM Dharam Singh, he had demanded the government to takeover the Krishna Math. The “Kanaka Gopura” was subsequently restored, but the leader has stayed away from the math though he visited this town several times after taking over as CM. On one occasion, he deputed former minister C.M. Ibrahim to attend an event in the math.  

BJP leaders too are keen to see if Mr Siddaramaiah visits the math. 

“If he comes to Udupi and does not visit Krishna Math, it will be a great insult to the people of Udupi and Hindu community,” warned BJP leader Uday Kumar Shetty.