Udupi: Karnataka Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi has insisted that the Kumbh Mela was a matter of one’s personal devotion, and belief and not related to one single party.

The minister, who was asked by reporters here on Monday about Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's participation in the religious event, clarified that participation was a personal choice and many Congressmen had travelled to Varanasi in a train from Mangaluru to attend the Kumbh Mela. He added that he too would visit after the rush of devotees subsides as he felt that the place was extremely crowded at present.

Jarkiholi, however, refused to comment on the appeal made by Shivakumar, who is also the President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) to leaders of the party to not misuse Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's name. He said that the matter would be taken up with members of the Congress as it was an internal issue of the party, adding that, if any concerns arise, they would be resolved within the party itself.

Further, he refused to comment on Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna hitting out at Shivakumar, asking him not to "misuse" the name of the AICC. Jarkiholi added that it was an issue between Shivakumar and Rajanna and he did not wish to intervene between the two senior Congressmen.

Speaking on Siddaramaiah completing his term as CM, the minister told the reporters that the party High Command would take a decision on the matter.

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Shivamogga: A 68-year-old man was allegedly murdered when he was taking a walk on the Government PU College Road in Hosakoppa village, Hole Honnur, in Bhadravathi taluk on Friday.

The deceased man, identified as Hemanna, is reported to have been attacked earlier too, but is learned to have had a narrow escape.

Hole Honnur Police, being informed of the incident, visited the spot and are learned to have conducted an inspection.