Sangha opposes Siddaramaiah statue at Vittal Heroor Circle in Kalaburagi
A Kalaburagi community organisation has urged the district administration to stop the installation of a Siddaramaiah statue at Vittal Heroor Circle and instead allow one of Vittal Heroor.
A community organisation in Kalaburagi has asked the district administration not to permit the installation of a statue of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at Vittal Heroor Circle, near the Karnataka High Court Bench Cross. The Swabhimani Vittal Heroor Abhimanigala Sangha instead wants the administration to facilitate the installation of a statue of social leader Vittal Heroor at the same spot.
Speaking at a press conference in Kalaburagi on Wednesday, Sangha leader Avvanna Myakeri said the Koli/Kabbaliga and Kuruba communities have long shared cordial and fraternal ties. He alleged that some individuals were trying to create unnecessary discord and weaken the longstanding harmony between the two communities. He urged the district administration to take precautionary measures to prevent any situation that could lead to a confrontation.
Mr. Myakeri said Vittal Heroor had emerged as a voice of the AHINDA movement and of oppressed sections of society, and had worked to build social awareness across Karnataka. He recalled that a circle was developed near the High Court Cross in December 2015 with the installation of a portrait of Vittal Heroor, and that supporters have since been organising annual programmes to mark the leader's death and birth anniversaries.
According to Mr. Myakeri, when Siddaramaiah visited Kalaburagi as Chief Minister in 2023, a board bearing his portrait was installed near Vittal Heroor Circle. Those concerned had reportedly assured that the board would be removed after the programme, he said. He alleged that a large statue of Siddaramaiah was instead installed overnight near the circle on September 17, during the Kalyana Karnataka Utsav celebrations.
Sangha leader Sharanappa Talawar said Vittal Heroor Circle has existed since 2015 and described the installation of Siddaramaiah's statue by "miscreants" as condemnable. He demanded an investigation to identify those responsible, adding that such an act could also bring disrepute to Siddaramaiah.