Callous officials had allowed painters to paint Islamic symbols on the wheels of the Chamundi temple chariot.
– R Guruprasad
Chanmudeshwari Temple chariot wheels on which Islamic symbols were painted have now been repainted.
They say Government work is God’s work. What if Government employees fail to execute God’s work itself and creates blunder?
The appearance of the Islamic symbols, Star and Crescent, on the wheels of Goddess at the shakti Peeta created a sensation in Karnataka but tension disappeared after officials rectified it.
As part of the annual maintenance work, the contract to repaint the chariot of world-famous Goddess Chamundeshwari Devi on a hilltop at Mysuru was given to a group of artists who draw the Muslim symbols Stars and Crescents on the wheels on March 10.
Soon it was noticed by devotees visiting the temple and an objection was raised. The artists, however, justified their actions and said they have taken the approval of the design from officers of the endowment department who have awarded them with the contract to paint.
A group of devotees tried to speak to endowment officials but their mobile was switched off. Someone from the crowd took the picture of the chariot wheels with Islamic symbols and shared it on social media. Soon the topic got the attention of members of Hindu JanaJagruthi Samithi(HJS) and Local MP MP Pratap Simha.
Mohan Gowda, convener of HJS immediately tweeted it and urged the Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and Muzrai minister Kota Srinivasa Poojari to take action against the corrupt officials.
MP Pratap Simha uploaded the picture on his Facebook page and soon public started reacting on it saying it is a grave mistake committed at the shakti Peeta of Naada Devathe.
Pratap Simha warned the officials with stringent action and soon a new set of artists was arranged to mask those symbols. The next day entire wheel got repainted and the episode ended without any outburst of communal tension.
Speaking to Organiser, Mohan Gowda from HJS said, “We heard that the artists who painted Muslim symbols on the wheels did it intentionally. We are happy that the corrupt officials understood the gravity of their mistake and rectified it immediately. We also thank Local MP Pratap Simha for taking the matter seriously and teaching a lesson to Hindu religion distracters.”
