Is it his money, asks Siddaramaiah after MP opposes domes on bus shelter

MYSURU: Opposition leader in the Legislative Assembly, Siddaramaiah, lashed out at Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha over his statement that he would demolish the bus shelter on Mysuru-Udhagamandalam Road for its dome (Gumbaz)-shaped structure.

“Being an MP, he must not do all such things. What can we say if he lacks common sense? Who is he to destroy the bus stop when it’s the government that spent money to build it? Is it his money? It’s the government’s money”, Siddaramaiah said.

Further speaking on the dome structure of the bus stand, he said, “Where is it mentioned that a bus stop should be in a certain shape? Who planned it? The engineers right? Are they not part of the government? They have built it, why are you (MP) talking of destroying it?”

According to him, dome-shaped structures are part of Indian history. The Congress leader further accused Pratap Simha of doing such things to polarise people and garner more votes. “They must not try to twist history. They do all this to polarise voters. They will not succeed, and the people of the country will realise their true identity. People of the country are secular”, claimed Siddaramaiah.

The bus shelter, which is in the eye of a storm, has got a quick makeover and name change on Wednesday.

Mysuru-Kodagu BJP MP Pratap Simha sparked a controversy when he said that he will bulldoze the mosque-like bus shelters being constructed across the city.

“I have seen gumbaz-like structures on bus shelters, one big gumbaz in the middle and two small on both sides. It is nothing but a masjid (mosque). The engineers have to remove this type of shelters. Otherwise, I’ll bring a JCB and bring them down,” said the BJP MP.

“Does the bus shelter model change overnight?” Simha questioned. He claimed that Gumbaz model bus shelters were being constructed in most parts of Mysore. “I have told the engineers to demolish the structures. If they don’t, I will bring JCB and demolish them,” he said. There were domes installed on a bus shelter on the Mysuru-Nanjangud Road, he claimed.

Earlier this week, Siddaramaiah hit out at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saying that the party has been busy distorting the history around the 18th-century warrior Tipu Sultan. This came after Narasimharaja constituency Congress MLA Tanveer Sait promised a 100-foot-tall statue of Tipu Sultan in Srirangapatna or Mysuru, which erupted in a political row. (ANI)