TUMAKURU: Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna made a controversial remark when he compared the idol of Lord Ram kept in the makeshift temple to a ‘doll’ kept under a tent like a ‘touring talkies’.
Addressing a backward classes convention on Tuesday evening at the Gubbi Veeranna Kala Mandir here, the minister said, “After the Babri masjid was demolished, I had gone to Ayodhya. They had kept two dolls in a tent and said that it was Lord Ram. It was like they had kept something on display in a touring talkies”.
“Now they are building a temple for Sri Ram there (Ayodhya). After another 5-6 months, it will be known if it is a BJP Sri Ram or a Modi Sri Ram. Lord Sri Ram blessed all and that is how the idea of Ram Rajya came about. There are temples of Sri Ram dating back to centuries in our villages and towns where there is more piety. Now they are building a temple there for the election with an intention to cheat people. Even we are Ram bhakts. When we step into the Rameshwara temple in our place, we feel a certain kind of vibration, and we feel piety and trust”, he said.
Minister Rajanna also said people’s devotion should not be exploited. “People go to Tirupati, put Rs 50 lakh, Rs 25 lakh in the donation box and do puja. It’s people’s belief, we can’t say it’s right or wrong and we are not against it. If people believe there is God or otherwise, it’s up to them. We’re not with either side”.
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh former Deputy Chief Minister T S Singh Deo said that there is no need for such statements.
“Lord Ram has been in the hearts of people for centuries. I feel that there is no need for such statements”, said the senior Congress leader.