I’m not deliberately avoiding visiting Krishna temple, says Siddaramaiah | The Hindu

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said he was not deliberately avoiding visiting the 800-year-old Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple.

Mr. Siddaramaiah not visiting the temple has been a topic of widespread media speculation. Answering queries of mediapersons at the Circuit House here, the Chief Minister said he had visited the Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple some years ago. “But now, nobody has invited me nor have I gone,” he said.

When it was pointed out that the seer of Kaginele Mutt had recently visited Udupi, he said he had not stopped anyone from visiting the Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple. “Visiting or not visiting a temple is left to the beliefs of the persons concerned,” he said.

To a query, he denied he was deliberately avoiding visiting the temple. Asked if he had any problems with anyone in the temple, he said he did not have any problems with anyone. “I have good relations with all 6.5 crore Kannadigas,” he said.

On the Bharatiya Janata Party making his not visiting the temple an issue, Mr. Siddaramaiah said it would backfire on the BJP as people would realise their designs. “People will understand who creates scaremongering and who is sincere. I too am a devotee of lord Krishna and lord Ishwara. Is not god one? He is a single god with several names. Is it not so?” he said.

Denies reports

The Chief Minister denied reports in a section of the press that the government was planning to implement Prohibition in the State. “There is no such proposal [regarding Prohibition] before the government,” he said.