Pic: BCC officeBelagavi: Targeting the Belagavi DC, Mohammad Roshan, over his recent statement about distributing free food to the lakhs of devotees on the last day of the Ganesh festival has taken a sharp political turn on Tuesday and seems it may backfire on the BJP.DC Roshan recently announced that, considering the lakhs of devotees who gather in Belagavi city for the Ganesh idol immersion procession, Mahaprasad would be served free of cost on behalf of the Belagavi City Corporation (BCC). His statement drew flak from BJP members during the BCC council meeting on Monday.BJP councillor and advocate Hanumant Kongali accused the DC of ‘insulting’ the council body by making an announcement without taking the members into confidence. “We are not against the distribution of Mahaprasadam, but there are no funds allocated for it. DC’s statement is illegal, and he must apologise publicly. If not, we will approach the Governor and even the central govt,” Kongali said.The controversy deepened on Tuesday when Ganeshotsav Mahamandal, the umbrella body of Sarvajanik Ganesh Mandals in Belagavi, stepped in. Led by Ramakant Konduskar, who narrowly lost to BJP MLA Abhay Patil in the last Assembly polls, the Mahamandal leaders met district minister Satish Jarkiholi. They assured that if the city corporation could not bear the expenses, they would mobilise funds themselves to serve Mahaprasad.Meanwhile, the BJP also drew strong criticism from local social activists. At a press conference on Tuesday evening, Rajkumar Topannavar and Sujit Mulgund alleged that the BJP was targeting the DC for communal reasons. “DC’s statement was made in good faith. Instead of appreciating the gesture, BJP leaders are trying to intimidate him only because he is a non-Hindu,” Topannavar charged. He also accused MLA Abhay Patil of misusing his political clout to pressurise officials.Mulgund warned that the people of Belagavi would not forgive BJP leaders for opposing the Mahaprasad initiative.
