2 hrs ago
Minister Denies Political Angle in Removal of Siddaramaiah Statue
A group installed a large statue of Siddaramaiah in Kalaburagi overnight.
They did not get the permissions required for putting up a statue.
City officials therefore removed it on Thursday.
Minister Ajay Singh said this was only a rules-related action.
He said it was not connected to D.K. Shivakumar’s visit.
Some people questioned the timing because the statue stood along Shivakumar’s route.
Officials rejected that political explanation.
A similar statue had also been removed from the same place about three years earlier.
Police were present to help keep the situation peaceful.
A nine-foot Siddaramaiah statue was installed overnight at High Court Circle in Kalaburagi.
Kalaburagi City Corporation removed it on Thursday because required permissions had not been obtained.
Minister Ajay Singh said the removal followed rules and had no political connection.
The statue was installed along the route of D.K. Shivakumar’s Kalaburagi visit, prompting speculation.
Authorities deployed police to prevent law-and-order problems during the removal.
- Who
- Minister Ajay Singh, Kalaburagi City Corporation officials, police, and supporters who installed the statue.
- What
- A nine-foot statue of former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was removed after officials found it lacked required permission.
- Where
- High Court Circle in Kalaburagi, Karnataka.
- When
- The latest statue was installed overnight and removed on Thursday; Ajay Singh commented on Friday.
- Why
- Officials said the statue was installed without permission from the district administration or city corporation; its timing also prompted political speculation.
Official Explanation
Political-Timing Speculation
Reason for removal
Official Explanation
Ajay Singh and officials said the statue was removed because it had been installed without the necessary permissions.
Political-Timing Speculation
The installation’s timing led to speculation that the removal was connected to D.K. Shivakumar’s visit.
Connection to leadership visit
Official Explanation
Ajay Singh said there was no connection between Shivakumar’s visit and the statue’s removal, and that neither Shivakumar nor Siddaramaiah knew about the installation.
Political-Timing Speculation
Supporters and observers questioned the timing because the statue was installed along Shivakumar’s route to Ganagapura temple.
Key facts
- Statue height
- Nine feet
- Location
- High Court Circle, Kalaburagi
- Removal authority
- Kalaburagi City Corporation
- Stated reason
- Installation without required permission
- Installation group
- Around eight to 10 people, including members of the Kuruba community
- Earlier incident
- A Siddaramaiah statue at the same location was removed about three years ago
- Security
- Police were deployed during the removal
Quotes
Ajay Singh
Karnataka Minister for Minor Irrigation
“There are rules for installing any statue. The Siddaramaiah statue was removed for this reason. There is no connection between Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s visit to Kalaburagi and the removal of the statue.”
thehansindia.com
“There is no confusion regarding this matter. The statue was installed without permission and was removed as per the rules.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
Related news
Siddaramaiah Statue Removed Ahead of Shivakumar’s Kalaburagi Visit
Siddaramaiah Statue Reopens Factional Fault Lines in Karnataka Congress
Supporter Booked Over Unauthorized Independence Day Posters in Bengaluru
Nehru Statue Reinstalled in Durgapur After Congress Protest
Narsampet Shuts Down After Peddhi Sudarshan Reddy Statue Removal
Vijay-Themed Ganesh Idols Trigger Political Row In Tamil Nadu
Rajanna Says Shivakumar Alone Can Bring Congress Votes
Karnataka Cabinet’s First Mangaluru Meeting Focuses on Coastal Development
Karnataka Cabinet Targets Coastal Tourism Growth From Mangaluru
Karnataka CM announces 10 programmes to accelerate regional development
