Karnataka govt clears funds for 2027 Mahamastakabhisheka in Karkala
Udupi (Karnataka), Mar 27 (PTI): The Karnataka government has approved financial assistance for infrastructure development in connection with the upcoming Mahamastakabhisheka in Karkala.
Mahamastakabhisheka is a major festival marked by the grand anointing of the 57-foot monolithic statue of Lord Gommateshwara (Bahubali).
Held once every 12 years, this ancient ritual draws millions of devotees.
Speaking to PTI, Karkala MLA V Sunil Kumar said that Rs 50 lakh has been sanctioned for the construction of a viewing platform (attalige), of which Rs 37.50 lakh will be released in the first instalment.
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In addition, the government has cleared a total grant of around Rs 1.59 crore in the 2025–27 budget, under a special case, to provide essential facilities for the festival. Of this, 75 per cent of the amount will be released in the initial phase.
Kumar said the funds were approved following a request to ensure adequate infrastructure for the grand event, which is scheduled to be held in 2027.
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Congress using hijab issue to pacify minority anger, alleges Karnataka LoP R Ashoka
Bengaluru: Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka has accused the Congress government of using the hijab issue to placate what he described as discontent among minority voters after the Davanagere by-election.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Ashoka alleged that the state government, instead of addressing issues such as price rise, corruption, farmers’ distress and law and order, was attempting to retain its minority vote base by reviving the hijab issue.
Referring to the 2022 dress code introduced by the BJP government, which prohibited hijab in schools and colleges, Ashoka said the Karnataka High Court had upheld the policy and emphasised the importance of discipline in educational institutions.
He questioned the Congress government’s move to revisit the issue and asked whether setting aside the court-backed policy to benefit one community could be described as secularism.
Ashoka further alleged that while the government was willing to permit hijab, it continued to prohibit saffron shawls.
He accused the government of dividing students on religious lines rather than treating schools and colleges as spaces of equality.
Drawing a comparison with Mamata Banerjee’s government in West Bengal, Ashoka claimed that excessive appeasement politics had harmed the state and warned that the Congress in Karnataka could face a similar political response.
He said voters in Karnataka would teach the Congress a lesson for what he termed “vote-bank politics” and for compromising constitutional and judicial principles.
