PUTTUR : The process of auctioning stalls which are to be set up during the annual festival of Puttur Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple has been cancelled after a controversy cropped up when leaders of a Hindu organization strongly opposed any permission that would be granted to Muslims to put up stalls.

The incident took place at a meeting convened at the temple on Sunday in the wake of the fair to be held from April 10 to 20.

VHP members namely Radhakrishna Bhat, Santosh, Dinesh Jain, Muralikrishna Hamsatadka and others expressed strong opposition saying “As the Temple belongs to Hindus, Muslim traders should not be permitted to set up stalls.” They also alleged that Muslim youth harassed Hind women.”

However, some Congress leaders including Block Congress President Kavu Hemanath Shetty, District Congress leader Bondala Jagannatha Shetty and others opposed this saying the old practice of permitting members of any community to put up stalls be continued, until the government took any decision.

Though a heated debate ensued, no decision could be taken and finally it was left to the discretion of the temple administrative officer to decide on the issue.

What has been gathered of late is that the Hindu organizations did not want Muslims to be permitted to put up stalls, in retaliation to the opposition that was earlier expressed to put up a saffron flag in a building opposite the Puttur Kendra Jumma Masjid during the Hindu Sangama held at Puttur last month. PUTTUR : The process of auctioning stalls which are to be set up during the annual festival of Puttur Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple has been cancelled after a controversy cropped up when leaders of a Hindu organization strongly opposed any permission that would be granted to Muslims to put up stalls.

The incident took place at a meeting convened at the temple on Sunday in the wake of the fair to be held from April 10 to 20.

VHP members namely Radhakrishna Bhat, Santosh, Dinesh Jain, Muralikrishna Hamsatadka and others expressed strong opposition saying “As the Temple belongs to Hindus, Muslim traders should not be permitted to set up stalls.” They also alleged that Muslim youth harassed Hind women.”

However, some Congress leaders including Block Congress President Kavu Hemanath Shetty, District Congress leader Bondala Jagannatha Shetty and others opposed this saying the old practice of permitting members of any community to put up stalls be continued, until the government took any decision.

Though a heated debate ensued, no decision could be taken and finally it was left to the discretion of the temple administrative officer to decide on the issue.

What has been gathered of late is that the Hindu organizations did not want Muslims to be permitted to put up stalls, in retaliation to the opposition that was earlier expressed to put up a saffron flag in a building opposite the Puttur Kendra Jumma Masjid during the Hindu Sangama held at Puttur last month.

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