The installation of statue of late Shivaratri Rajendra Swami of Suttur Mutt overnight has triggered a controversy with protests and counter-protests taking place at the venue.
The statue was installed at the Gun House Circle late on Friday night at the spot where the erstwhile royal family of Wadiyars wanted to install the statue of late Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar.
The then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had laid the foundation to install the statue of the late Suttur Mutt seer, in 2017. But this was opposed by a few members belonging to Ursu community. In 2022, Pramoda Devi Wadiyar of the erstwhile royal family wrote to Shivaratri Deshikendra Swami, the present seer of Suttur Mutt, that it was desired by the public to install the statue of late Srikantadutta Narasimharaja Wadiyar at the same place adjoining the palace and hence the proposal by the mutt to install the statue of Sri Rajendra Swamiji may be reconsidered.
