Lingayat seer gives tremors to Pralhad Joshi in Dharwad

Bengaluru: Fakira Ding aleshwar Swami of Shirahatti Fakkireshwar Math, a prominent Veerashaiva Lingayat seer, on Monday said he has decided to contest as an independent candidate from Dharwad segment in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Repeatedly targeting BJP's candidate from the segment and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, he accused him of "suppressing" VeerashaivaLingayat and other communities, and also misusing of the Lingayat maths and causing disrespect to them to stay in power.

Lingayats are said to be the majority among voters in the Dharwad segment, while Joshi, a fourtime MP, is a Brahmin. Responding to the Swami's decision, Joshi said: "There is no reaction to Dingaleshwar Swami... Whatever he says it is blessings for me."

The seer also accused Congress of neglecting Lingayats after coming to power, and not giving suitable positions to leaders of calibre from the community.

Speaking to reporters here, he accused both national parties of having betrayed the people of the Dharwad constituency.

"While the two parties have fielded their candidates, voters of Dharwad have decided to field me as their candidate. This is a 'Dharma Yuddha' by those who value their dignity and 'Kaavidhaaris', against national parties and selfish politicians," the swami said.

'Taste will never change:' Modi compares Cong to bitter gourd

In an acerbic attack on the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held the grand old party responsible for all ills plaguing the country and went on to compare the outfi t to bitter gourd (karela), whose taste he said, will never change even if it is "fried in ghee or mixed with sugar".

Addressing his fi rst rally in Maharashtra for the 2024 elections, Modi targeted the Congress and its policies.

"The Congress is the source of all problems in the country. Who was responsible for the Partition of the country on the basis of religion...Kashmir (issue), Naxalism? Who opposed Ram temple construction and questioned the existence of Lord Ram. Who declined the Ram temple (inauguration) invite?" he asked the gathering. (PTI)