Bengaluru: The Karnataka BJP government is planning to install a statue of Swami Vivekananda’s at Muthyala Maduvu water body in Jigani, which is on the outskirts of Bengaluru. 

The project has been proposed by the Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) with a view to improve its prospects as a tourist destination. 

While the BJP is gung-ho about the project, the Congress is not happy with the project. 

KPCC president DK Shivakumar said, “This BJP government in Karnataka doesn’t have priority, what has to be done. Now it is not the time to build any statue. It is time to sort out the problems of the state. The state has to be developed. Look at the problems of migrants, labourers, farmers and all the sectors. Till today, the CM hasn’t called a meeting of bankers, farmers. Not a single rupee has reached any farmer, labourer or anyone who have been doing professionally their jobs. Not even a single rupee has reached a driver,” as reported by Financial Express. 

Also Read: Jesus Statue: No questioners now?

But the BJP is not the one to buy this theory. 

“The Congress party has an issue with Hindu leaders all the time. A few days ago, they raised objections about Veer Savarkar, now it is Swami Vivekananda. DK Shivakumar himself is so enthusiastic about erecting a Jesus Christ statue in his constituency, but when it comes to Hindu leaders, they have a displeasure.” 

This statue of Swami Vivekananda’s will be 120-foot tall and will be built on the lines of the Patel statue in Gujarat. 

It might be recalled that Shivakumar himself had handed over 10 acres of land for the construction of Jesus Christ’s statue in Kanakapura of Ramanagara district, Karnataka and even laid the foundation stone for it.
 
The big question that arises is: Why does Congress, which boasts and brags about its secular credentials, despise proposals relating to Hindu icons?