BENGALURU: Deputy Chief Minister DK Sivakumar with an explanation after his statement, that Shatrusamahara Puja was performed with mass animal sacrifice to bring down the Karnataka government, became a controversy. Sivakumar noted on X that the puja was held 15 km away from the Taliparamba Rajarajeshwari temple and that his words were misinterpreted. He also requested that the temple not be dragged into controversy.
Shivakumar had said that ‘Shathru samhara pooja’ was performed in a temple in Kannur against the Karnataka government. It was alleged that a senior BJP leader in Karnataka was behind it. The reference was to the famous Taliparamba Rajarajeshwari temple in South India. However, animal sacrifice is not performed in the Rajarajeshwari temple. The temple authorities came up with an explanation that someone had misled Shivakumar. Devaswom Minister Radhakrishnan also responded that there is no such malpractice in any area of the state.
Sivakumar’s response was to the question of why he is wearing a thread and bangle on his hand. He explained that it was to prevent evil eyes against him. Shivakumar said ‘Rajarajeshwara temple in Kerala. With this, news spread that he was talking about the Taliparamba Rajarajeshwari temple. The Rajarajeshwari temple is regularly visited by the leaders of Karnataka. Former BJP Chief Ministers Yeddyurappa and Sadananda Gowda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had also visited here.