Mattar Ratnakar Hegde, president of the district unit of the BJP, said on Tuesday that nobody had to join the party to “repair” it.
Replying to queries of presspersons on the allegation of Lakshmivara Tirtha Swami of Shiroor Mutt that there was corruption in the local BJP unit and that he would like to join the party and “repair” it, Mr. Hegde said he has known the Shiroor seer for nearly 30 years but the seer had never told him of any problems. “I do not know why he has made the allegation. But nobody has to join the party to repair it. We know how to set right our problems,” he said.
On whether the BJP would give poll ticket to the seer, who had announced that he would like to contest as a BJP candidate from Udupi, failing which he would enter the fray as an independent, Mr. Hegde said the party would be happy if the seer wants to join its fold.
“He has fought for various causes of Hindutva. Only those within the party will get ticket. Not just the Shiroor seer, even others can join if they want,” he said.
Mr. Hegde said the party had no differences with the Shiroor seer or the Ashta Mutts of Udupi. But the Shiroor seer has suddenly announced that he would like to contest as a BJP candidate while also lauding Congress leader and Minister for Fisheries, Youth Empowerment and Sports Pramod Madhwaraj. “His statements are contradictory. He should clarify [them]. But we believe that the Shiroor seer’s blessings are with us,” he said.
Mr. Hegde said the party would organise a ‘Kamal Jathre’ on a four-acre land at Katapady in Kaup Assembly constituency from Friday to Sunday. It is being organised by the party’s team from Delhi to propagate the programmes of the BJP and the Union government. It will have a number of stalls, including one where people can take selfies with a cutout of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. People can give their suggestions for the Centre and the likely BJP government in the State at another stall, Mr. Hedge said. Cultural programmes too are planned.
