Now, Goa government demolishes Basavanna, Shiva temple
- The Goa Government razed to ground a Shiva and Basavanna temple also.
- It was built and worshipped by Kannadigas for over half a century,
- The government treated a religious worship place like any other house.
- Vidhana Soudha seize programme on Oct 3 to sympathise with the plight of Goa Kannadigas
FollowApart from demolishing 55 houses of Kannadigas, the Goa Government razed to ground a Shiva and Basavanna temple also, built and worshipped by Kannadigas for over half a century, reported Kannada Prabha.
The government did not even issue a notice before demolishing a place of public worship.  The Kannadigas are angry that the government treated a religious worship place like any other house. The Shivalinga and other idols were removed using a crow bar. Many idols were broken in the act. The devotees had no alternative but to stand and look helpless. Just as the staff were about to break Basavanna’s photo somebody took it away to safety. Immediately after JCB just bulldozed the temple and within minutes it was razed to the ground.
The government had given notice for demolishing 55 houses belonging to Kannadigas and not for the Shiva temple. When the police and workers arrived early morning it was a shock for the temple staff.Â
Despite their repeated requests the workers used crow bar and removed the Shiva Linga, Ganesha, Nandi, Anjaneya idols, damaging them. Â All Pooaj things, table, a pallakki and other stuff were removed from the site, taken in a tempo to the Vasco municipality office and kept in a godown and locked up.
The temple was built in a 200 meter space by mostly the workers from North Karnataka. Over 3000 devotees used to visit this temple from Byna, Mangor Hill areas. Ten years ago when the temple was renovated it was Goa Government minister had attended the function.
Basaveshwara Temple Committee President Siddarama Sindagiri said Lingayt and Veerashaiav leaders are engaged in the religion controversy in Karnataka. Here the temple built by Linagayats and Veerashaivas has been demolished and nobody has raised a voice against it. If they had any genuine concern about Linagayat and Veerashaiva they would not let this happen.
Meanwhile, in Bengaluru the Kannada Okkuta president Vatal Nagaraj and Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce president S R Govindu have planned a Vidhana Soudha seize programme on Oct 3 to bring to the notice of State and Central Governments, the plight of Goa Kannadigas. Speaking at a joint press meet on Thursday they said Kannadigas in Goa are repeatedly subjected to atrocities but neither the State Government nor the Central Government is taking any action to stop it.
Karnataka MPs are silent about this and also about Cauvery and Mahadayi. Hence to give the governments a wake up call, we will lay seige to Vidhana Soudha on October 3. If that does not attract any action, severe agitations will be taken up. The Kannada Okkuta office bearers will hold a dharna in Goa, Vatal said. They also urged for the State Government to send Rs 2 crore for the Kannadigas who are left on the streets.
MLA N H Kona Reddy said it is not enough if Siddaramaiah just writes a letter but must send a delegation of Ministers. Both State and Central governments must interfere, he said.
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