MANGALURU: The youth wing of Janata Dal (Secular) in Dakshina Kannada demanded that the BJP should take disciplinary action against their district vice president Jagadish Adhikari for his alleged derogatory remarks against Koti-Chennaya (legendary Tuluva twin heroes worshipped in Tulunadu) and Billava community.
Akshith Suvarna, JD(S) Youth wing president of Dakshina Kannada, said that Adhikari has apologised and offered ‘tappu kanike, (offering made as a token of apology) at Koti-Chennaya shrines realising his mistakes. However, being a political party, the BJP has its own responsibility to take action against Adhikari, who has hurt the sentiments of the Billava community and thousands of Koti-Chennaya devotees, Suvarna said.
“Adhikari has extended an apology on his individual capacity. He is the vice president of BJP in Dakshina Kannada. Hence, the BJP should expel Adhikari from the party for making derogatory remarks on Koti-Chennaya and Billava community or at least the party should have suspended him for six months. BJP has been seeking votes in the name of Hindutva, but they are silent now when their own party leader spoke against Hindu deity and Billava community.
The BJP in the district should declare its stand on Adhikari’s remarks. We have held a protest demanding action against Adhikari so that no one should speak about Koti-Chennaya and Billava community in future,” Suvarna said.
After facing backlash from Billava community leaders and a notice being issued by the BJP, Adhikari had tendered an apology as well as visited prominent shrines of Koti-Chennaya and offered ‘tappu kanike, (offering made as a token of apology).