S S Mallikarjun walks over burning coal

DAVANAGERE: Former minister S S Mallikarjun and his family members walked barefoot over a bed of fiery coal at the ‘Agnikunda utsava’ at Veerabhadreshwar temple on Wednesday.

Mallikarjun and his family members visit the temple every year and offer prayer. Following by the puja, kenda seve (walking barefoot on burning coal) is performed by taking a vow and and it is a belief that one’s wishes are fulfilled.

Hundreds of other devotees too performed the ‘Kenda seve’. After the Utsava, S S Mallikarjun, beaming with confidence, said that the Congress will win seven constituencies in Davanagere district.

Speaking to media persons, he said the middle class have become poor, and the poor have become even poorer under the BJP rule. “I will contest the election whoever is my opponent. No one will vote for BJP candidates and they have no other way except using Modi’s name during the campaign. The BJP leaders do not come to the electoral battlefield with their development works”.

Mallikarjun challenged the BJP and said, “I will contest the election without taking the names of any of our leaders and let them come to campaign without taking the names of their top leaders”.

Taunting the BJP candidates Mallikarjun said, “They got 40 per cent commission in the Smart City works. The projects for which I laid the foundation stone during my tenure are happening  now. Davanagere secured the ninth place among Smart Cities because of my work. Did they get grants for Smart City by selling tobacco and gutka? The BJP should serve the people. But the economy of the country is collapsed”.

Mallikarjun lashed out at MP G M Siddeshwar and said the BJP is taking 40 percent for Smart City works though the party has enough funds. “I know what work I have accomplished”, he added.