Last Update: February 26, 2023, 09:56 IST
BJP leader CT Ravi (Photo: Twitter/@CTRAvi_BJP)
Ahead of the assembly elections, allegations have started pouring in on the BJP and questions have been raised on the move of CT Ravi, known to be a staunch supporter of Hindutva.
The ruling BJP and the opposition Congress are at loggerheads over the issue of entering the temple after consuming non-vegetarian food. The controversy started when some Congress members alleged that BJP MLA and national general secretary CT Ravi entered a temple in Uttara Kannada district after having non-vegetarian food.
The issue caused massive embarrassment to the BJP as it made an issue of the then chief minister Siddaramaiah entering the temple after having a non-vegetarian meal. This was projected as an outrageous move by Siddaramaiah.
The saffron party had also alleged in 2018 that Siddaramaiah and the Congress do not respect Hindu traditions.
Ahead of the assembly elections, allegations have started pouring in on the BJP and questions have been raised on the move of CT Ravi, known to be a staunch supporter of Hindutva. The BJP and CT Ravi are trying to downplay and issue a clarification on the issue.
The Congress is using the issue to run a campaign on social media and criticize the double standards of BJP leaders. The party has questioned how Hindu activists and religious saints who have come out in the open to criticize Siddaramaiah have turned a blind eye to the current development.
The controversy erupted after Ravi entered the temples after allegedly consuming non-vegetarian food. Pictures of Ravi eating non-veg at the residence of local BJP MLA Sunil Naik in Uttara Kannada district are going viral on social media. He had come to Karwar to participate in Shivaji Jayanti.
It is alleged that CT Ravi had darshan at Nag Baan and Karibanta Hanuman temple in Bhatkal town. Ravi was accompanied by Bhatkal MLA Sunil Naik and members of the temple committee.
People have questioned Ravi for violating the sanctity of temples by visiting them after having non-vegetarian food.
Karnataka BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel said that CT Ravi had admitted that he had eaten non-vegetarian food. But, he did not enter the temple. He stood outside the temple with folded hands. He is not like Siddaramaiah who eats non-vegetarian food and goes straight to Hindu pilgrimage to Dharmasthala. He said that this is the difference between Siddaramaiah and CT Ravi.
Reacting strongly to the incident, Ravi had said that he was born in a community that eats non-vegetarian food. “I eat non-veg food. But I will never step into a temple after having a non-vegetarian meal.”
He said that he had gone to inspect the temple premises as the Muslims had not allowed the temple authorities to carry out the construction work.
Ravi also said that he was brought up in a traditional Hindu family. Unlike Siddaramaiah, I will not dare to say that I will enter the temple after eating non-vegetarian food. I am not going to fall prey to Congress’s toolkit politics.”
Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah said that eating vegetarian, non-vegetarian food and going to temples is not an issue for discussion. He said that BJP leaders do not have clarity on the issues.
As the elections in Karnataka are nearing, the BJP is in a dilemma on this issue. The party is facing stiff competition from the Sri Ram Sena in the coastal region, where the BJP with its Hindutva agenda wins most of the seats.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)