Arguments spark between officers, archaka during Governor Gehlot’s Anjanadri visit

Gangavati:  Governor of Karnataka Thawar Chand Gehlot visited the Hanuman Temple at Anjanadri Hills on Friday, December 9. However, it is reported that there was a tussle between the archaka and officers on who will perform puja during Governor’s visit.

As per the schedule, Governor Gehlot offered puja at the Sri Anjaneya Swamy Temple located at the foothill of the Anjanadri. For this, the temple committee appointed a different archaka. This irked the archaka Mahant Vidyadas Baba of the Hanuman Temple atop of Anjanadri Hills. He opposed the decision by the temple committee of appointing an archaka from outside just for puja on the Governor’s visit.

Baba said, “As per the Dharwad Bench of the Karnataka High Court, the temple priest is appointed for the Anjanadri Hills. By appointing an outside priest for Governor’s visit, the temple committee has disobeyed the court orders.”

As Baba was not ready to compromise on the intervention of the Assistant Commissioner of Koppal district and officer of the temple administration Basavaneppa Kalashetty and CPI Manjunath, arguments sparked between archaka and officers.

Later, with the help of the police, Baba was shifted elsewhere.