On 28th August, Wednesday, the Koppal district Tehsildar ordered the removal of decorative electric lamps on the streets of Gangavathi taluka, which is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Hanuman. The electric lamps on the streets of the city portrayed ‘Gada’ and ‘Dhanush’ like ornamental structures, to symbolise the weapons carried by Lord Rama and Lord Hanuman.
Tehsildar U. Nagaraj also ordered to register a police case against Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Corporation (KRIDL) for allegedly hurting religious sentiments by portraying “Hindu religious symbols” on public lamps.
The action was taken after the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), which is the political wing of the banned Islamist terrorist organization Popular Front of India (PFI) raised objections over the lamps and stated that these were allegedly hurting their religious sentiments. However, later the order was revoked on the verbal order of the District Collector.
These poles are notably installed on the road between the Rana Pratap Circle and Julia Nagar in the Gangavathi region for beautification. The official notification by the tehsildar stated that these poles could disturb the religious harmony in the city. “Since there are possibilities of disturbing public peace in the city, the poles should be immediately cleared. File a case against the KIRDL engineers for carrying out this work and take appropriate action,” the official notification read in Kannada.
Shame on Hindu Hater Congress!
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Gangavathi, Karnataka is birthplace of Bhagwan Hanuman Ji. Street lights in shape of Gada, Bow and Arrow had been installed there.
SDPI wrote to Congress govt saying "these symbols threaten social peace"
Congress Govt has ordered removal of light… pic.twitter.com/Uw9qzde5R7
It is important to note that Anjanadri Hills in Gangavathi (Koppal district) is celebrated as the birthplace of Lord Hanuman. Earlier, BJP’s Janardan Reddy had demanded the development of Anjanadri hills on similar lines to Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama in Uttar Pradesh. He had also demanded the release of Rs 120 crores from the state funds for the development of the area, which is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Hanuman.
Local reports say that the electric poles portraying symbols of arrows and ‘gada’ have been installed to instil religious motivation in the minds of devotees who travel on the path while on their way to the Anjanadri Hills. During the installation, it was also made clear that the act was being executed with no other communal intention. Attempts are made to beautify the birthplace of Lord Hanuman on the models of Ayodhya and Tirupati, and the decorative electric poles were part of that effort.
However, the Tehsildar asked removal of the lamps citing communal disharmony after protests by SDPI. Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), which is the political wing of the banned Islamist terrorist organization Popular Front of India (PFI), raised objections over the lamps and stated that these were allegedly hurting their religious sentiments. “The electric poles contain religious symbols that might disturb communal harmony in Gangavati,” the SDPI had stated in the official notification on 21st August appealing to the Gangavati Municipal Assembly Commissioner for clarification.
The SDPI also claimed that these Hindu religious symbols on the electric poles threatened the society’s peace.
However, after the outrage over the Tehsildar’s order to remove the poles and police action against authorities, the District Collector issued a verbal order to revoke the order.
On 28 August, Tehsildar U. Nagaraj issued another notification, saying that no electric poles will be removed and no case will be filed against the police. The Tehsildar added that the earlier order is being withdrawn. The new notification said, “As this matter falls under the purview of the municipal council, a proposal was made in the general meeting, the matter was presented and approved, and the background order was made without my notice. The order has been withdrawn.”
The Tehsildar asked the police to dispose of the case at this stage. The police have been directed not to register any FIR against the officials concerned and not to take any action to remove the electric poles.
It is crucial to note that the poles have been installed on the streets of Gangavathi leading to Anjanadri Hills. The route lasts 12km. Local reports suggest that these religious symbols have been installed just to encourage the devotees walking on their way to Anjanadri Hills to worship Lord Hanuman.
Note: This report has been updated with latest developments in the matter
