Karnataka: Soil collected in Kittur too

BELAGAVI: Revenue minister R Ashok, home minister Araga Jnanendra, higher education minister CN Ashwath Narayana and youth employment and sports minister KC Narayana Gowda on Friday collected soil from the Kittur fort.
The soil will be used as part of a symbolic gesture while developing a theme park that will house a 108-foot bronze statue of Kempegowda on the premises of the Bengaluru International Airport. The ministers did a puja on the premises of the fort.
The statue of Kempegowda will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 11. Narayana said the soil collected from prominent historical and spiritual places across the state will be used for the Kempegowda statue. “Today, we also collected soil from the Vishwanath temple in Hampi and Kudalasangama, an important pilgrimage spot for Lingayats,” he said.
“Kittur is an energetic place, known for the courage and sacrifice of Rani Channamma and Sangolli Rayanna for the motherland. Hence, we are collecting the soil from here,” Narayana said.
Local MLA Mahantesh Dodagoudar, Belagavi MLA Abhay Patil, BJP district (rural) president Sanjay Patil, Madiwala Rajayogindra Swamiji of the local mutt, Panchakshari Swamiji of Nicchanaki, Belagavi city police commissioner Dr Boralingaiah MB, assistant commissioner Shashidhar Bagali were present.