Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, who had backed out of the temple face-off with H.D. Kumaraswamy, on Monday offered prayers at the shrine here while the JD(S) leader took an oath affirming his allegations of corruption against the former.
Mr. Yeddyurappa, who had challenged Mr. Kumaraswamy to prove the allegations of corruption and nepotism against him by taking the truth test before a deity, had later retracted saying that religious leaders and BJP President Nitin Gadkari had asked him not to mix politics with religion.
After offering prayers at the temple, the Chief Minister said, “I did not ask anything for myself. On behalf of six crore people of the State, I sought blessings of Lord Manjunatha for the prosperity of Karnataka.”
He said he had prayed for copious rains and prosperity of the State. “In the last three years, the State has been witnessing bountiful rains and prosperity with the blessings of Gods. I want this to continue for another two years,” the Chief Minister said.
Mr. Kumaraswamy, who visited the shrine later, pledged before the deity that he stood by the charges made by him against the Chief Minister in the last six to seven months.
“After offering worship, I submitted to God that whatever I told the media on June 14 about Yeddyurappa sending his emissary to strike a compromise to refrain against further exposure of his corrupt deeds is 100 per cent true..,” he told reporters outside the temple.
Mr. Kumaraswamy lashed out at Mr. Yeddyurappa for “reneging” on his challenge and termed him a “betrayer” for “dragging Manjunatheshwara into a political battle.”
Defending his ‘truth test’, Mr. Kumaraswamy said he was not concerned over the modalities set for the exercise. “From my heart and soul, I have narrated everything before God. It is for the Almighty to pronounce judgement”, he said.
According to the tradition followed at the temple, aggrieved parties stand before the deity and take pledge on the issues they have been contesting, after payment of Rs 11 as fee. As per the custom, the temple authorities only facilitate the exercise, but do not interfere.
“In the last six or seven months I have released documentary evidence on the corruption involving the Chief Minister. All of them are true. I have only placed truth before people”, Mr. Kumaraswamy said.
“Now let people decide who is following dharma and who is on the path of adharma . Yeddyurappa gave an open challenge, but did not keep up his word”, Mr. Kumaraswamy said, referring to the advertisements in major dailies on June 16, challenging him to come with his family to Dharmasthala to swear that the allegations levelled were true.
A group of people belonging to a farmers organisation shouted slogans against Mr. Yeddyurappa and Mr. Kumaraswamy. Devotees criticised both the leaders for “disrupting” darshan schedules.
