The Hindu : Front Page : Order on ‘lokakalyana’ puja withdrawn

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Friday, Jun 13, 2008
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Order on ‘lokakalyana’ puja withdrawn

S. Rajendran and Nagesh Prabhu

It has been described as an act bordering on sycophancy

Cabinet discusses the circular at length
Precedence set during Krishna’s reign cited

BANGALORE: Monday’s order of the State Government, deemed as highly controversial by the adversaries of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), directing the nearly 37,000 muzrai temples to perform at least one puja a day for the well-being of the people (Lokakalyana) on behalf of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and the new BJP Government in the State has been withdrawn.

Sources in the Government told The Hindu here on Thursday that the order was withdrawn as it was “a unilateral decision of the Muzrai Department, particularly Minister S.N. Krishnaiah Setty. The decision has been taken without the knowledge of the Chief Minister.” It has been described as a decision bordering on sycophancy more than an attempt to promote any culture.

The circular was reportedly discussed at length at a Cabinet meeting following which a decision was taken to withdraw it with immediate effect. A few Ministers are stated to have attempted to prevail upon the Chief Minister that there was nothing wrong with the circular and that there was precedence of a Government Order directing puja at all muzrai temples. It was also argued at the meeting that directing such a puja could in reality rejuvenate all the muzrai temples since nearly “95 per cent of them are defunct”.

The order said, “All muzrai temples to conduct a puja every morning in the name of the Chief Minister and the BJP Government for peace and well-being of the State.”

Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Shobha Karandlaje and Home Minister V.S. Acharya said the circular had been issued without the knowledge of the Chief Minister.

It is not the first time that such circulars have been issued by the Government. It was the Congress that first issued such an order. In the wake of a severe drought in 2001, the S.M. Krishna Government issued a similar circular on September 11, 2001, instructing muzrai temples to conduct special pujas to give strength to the people to face the harsh conditions of the drought.

Then Religious and Charitable Endowment Commissioner C.N. Seetharam issued the circular and directed the archaks of Kollur Mookambika temple and Srikanteswara temple of Nanjangud, among others, to offer prayers.

On September 16, 2002 the Congress Government instructed the archak of Srikanteswara temple of Nanjangud to offer Maharudrabhisheka in the name of Mr. Krishna and his wife, Prema.

Pressure ruled out

“I am not embarrassed in withdrawing the circular, and the decision (to withdraw) was taken after the Chief Minister asked me to do so,” said Mr. Krishnaiah Setty.

Speaking to reporters at the inauguration of Mango Mela here, he said that the circular was not withdrawn under pressure from the Opposition.

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