Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj K.S. Eshwarappa faced the ire of the Bhovi community when he paid a visit to Chamundeshwari Temple atop Chamundi Hills in Mysuru on Sunday.
He has become a target of the Bhovi community’s anger after he referred to the community, also known as “Vaddars”, in a derogatory manner while reacting to former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s attack on BJP national president Amit Shah.
The community members, who had threatened to gherao Mr. Eshwarappa, turned up outside the temple with placards in hand and staged a protest near the statue of Mahishasura.
“Our community dug up the earth and rocks on Chamundi Hills to lay the 8-km-long road to Chamundeshwari Temple from the foothills. Not just this, the community was engaged in the construction of KRS, besides other basic infrastructure works, including the construction of tanks in villages,” said Seetharam, former chief of Karnataka State Bhovi Development Corporation.
He accused Mr. Eshwarappa of slighting the community by using a casteist slur. “His tongue is not under control,” he said, seeking action against the Minister.
Meanwhile, Mr. Eshwarappa, who was scheduled to chair a progress review meeting with officials of RDPR in Mysuru, left without holding the meeting in view of the enforcement of poll code.
