Tumakuru, Jan 25: Karnataka Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader SR Mahesh entered into an altercation with Tumarku Superintendent of Police Divya Gopinath during the funeral of Siddaganga seer Shivakumara Swami, leaving the latter in tears. The incident occurred when Gopinath stopped him from entering a restricted area after which the minister lost his cool and shouted at the woman officer.
The minister was stopped from entering the Siddagana Mutt, the 111-year-old seer’s final resting ground, as there was a restriction on the number of people entering the premises. When Mahesh insisting on entering the people, he was told by Gopinath that the building could not accommodate any more people after which the altercation occurred.
In a video of the incident showed Gopinath stopping the minister from entering the premises. As per eyewitnesses, the minister ‘abused’ Gopinath after which she was left in tears. The state tourism minister, however, claims that he didn’t use any foul language.
"I asked her not to create any nuisance there. I didn’t abuse anyone. My only objection was that how could a minister be denied entry into the hall when all the other MLAs and ministers were allowed,” Mahesh was quoted by the news agency as saying.
Gopinath said she was only doing her job as chief minister and deputy chief minister had given instructions to maintain security and manage the crowd effectively.
Shivakumara Swami, who passed away on Monday, was known as the 'walking god' and an incarnation of the 12th century social reformed by his followers. The Lingayat seer also headed Sree Siddaganga educational trust which runs 125 educational institutes. Many of these institutions offer free education for the poor or unprivileged.
Adding hurt to the injury, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy defended the minister, saying, he responded angrily as he was denied entry to the venue. Millions of people were allowed to enter the venue then why cabinet ministers were being stopped, he added.
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