Raichur: Just two days before the temple
face-off at Dharmasthala with JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy,
Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa on Saturday decided to backout from
the `truth test`, heeding the advice of his party and
religious leaders.
Speaking to reporters here, Yeddyurappa said he had
dropped the idea on the advice of religious leaders and BJP
President Nitin Gadkari.
Gadkari had advised Yeddyurappa that it was "not
appropriate to use religious places, especially temples, for
politics" and drop his temple face-off with Kumaraswamy on the
issue of an alleged compromise bid by the Karnataka Chief
Minister.
Yeddyurappa said he will visit the temple but not "swear"
before the deity and just offer worship.
He said he would file a defamation case against
Kumaraswamy for hurling fresh charges of irregularities to the
effect that his family purchsed a cement manufacturing plant
in Belgaum.
He said he would also send a legal notice to Congress
leader Siddaramaiah for his charge that he and his family
evaded income tax to the tune of Rs 360 crore.
Yeddyurappa said none of his family members would accompany
him to Dharmasthala and some ministerial colleagues will be
present during the pooja.
Yeddyurappa had challenged Kumaraswamy to come to the Lord
Manjunatha temple at Dharamasthala along with his family and
take the "trust test" to prove his claim that he (Yeddyurappa)
had sent an emissary to "buy peace" with him.
The programme has drawn flak from political and religious
leaders.
Yeddyurappa after having darshan of Lord Manjunatha,
will proceed to Kukke Subramanya, a nearby religious place, to
launch several development programmes planned by the state.
Defending his earlier decision, Yeddyurappa said he had
thrown the challenge to bring an end to the "baseless"
allegations against him and family by Kumaraswamy.
Yeddyurappa later distributed 200 houses built by
Siddaganga mutt at Umali Pannur village in Manvi taluk of
Raichur for those displaced by the 2009 floods.
Minister for Health B Sreeramulu, in-charge of Raichur
district and Revenue Minister G Karunakara Reddy stayed away.
Yeddyurappa, who later proceeded to Gulbarga for an
interaction with farmers on organic farming, appealed to the
Centre to withdraw fuel price hike.
He will hold consultations with farmers of Melakunda (B)
village on organic farming.
PTI
