Ramanagara: Copying Prime Minister Narendra Modi's style of offering prayers and taking a dip in Ganga before taking out padyatra demanding implementation of Mekedatu project will not help Congress and KPCC President DK Shivakumar as people do not appreciate artificial protests.
"Even if you are copying somebody, there should be originality, isn't it? I saw DK Shivakumar girdling up the pannchas (dhoti) and offering a namaskara to Talacauvery. He has copied Narendra Modi's way of offering prayers and taking a dip in the Holy Ganga. Will people appreciate this? This type of artificial protests will not help," he told reporters here.
Modi had offered prayers at Kaal Bhairav temple and had taken a dip in the Ganga before inaugurating the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi. Likewise, Shivakumar visited Talacauveri in Kodagu on December 24 to offer traditional pujas to the birthplace of River Cauvery.
Before visiting Talacauvery, Shivakumar visited Triveni Sangama in Bhagamandala and sprinkled the holy water on him as per tradition. He also offered prayers at Sri Bhagandeshwara Temple and then proceeded towards Talacauvery where he was accorded a traditional welcome. Priests performed the rituals at the holy Kundike.
This was a prelude to the padayatra of the Congress, which is demanding early implementation of the Mekedatu project, which is a bone of contention between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
There is no need for him to learn from Shivakumar because people know what work Deve Gowda family has done in terms of irrigation in the state, Kumaraswamy said.
"We do not carry placards and wear panchchas (dhotis) to claim that we are farmers. People know who work for farmers and irrigation. They know the contribution of the Deve Gowda family for irrigation and farmers. We need not learn from Shivakumar," he added.
Hitting out at empty promises of the Congress over Krishna project in North Karnataka, Kumaraswamy said instead of holding padayatra related to the Mekedatu project, the grand old party should launch satyagraha in Delhi.
"It is not possible for the Congress to change the hearts of our people (JDS voters in Mysuru and Hassan region) by conducting padayatra in support of the Mekedatu project. One should have genuine background for this to happen," he said.