Report by Michael Rodrigues
Team Mangalorean Udupi

Manipal: Karnataka State is reeling under drought at different places.  Agricultural Department is trying to provide seeds necessary for agriculture to the farmers.  Village Panchayath is helping for irrigation's facilities.  Revenue Department is availing relief to the victims. Likewise Mujarai Department has also been directed to start prayers in the temple by us.  What's wrong with it ?

This was the explanation given by  Srinivas Poojary, Minister for Mujarai, while speaking with media persons on Sunday July 22, 2012 after inaugurating his news office at Rajathadri ,Manipal.

It is at this point of time, Jagadish Shetter, new CM phoned up the Minister and asked his explanation over his statement that appeared in the Press and became a bone of contention between the opposition leaders.

Answering the call, Poojary said, "Let this matter come for discussion in the Assembly, I will answer it.  Nothing has happened ,as the opposition is crying about.  Mujarai Department has not sanctioned not even single rupee, forget 17 crores.  The respective temples are looking after the expenses themselves. Temples may utilize money in the 'Hundi' for this.  Thinking that this must be an extravaganza, a maxim Rs. 5,000/- has been made to be the ceiling", he replied.

"Fighting drought in the state, all other departments are doing their own arrangements as per their might ; Mujarai Department is also doing the same. Under Mujarai, temples observe rituals such as Pooja, Homa.  Likewise it has been instructed to do the rituals in the temples, that is all", replied the Minister Poojary in reply to the CM over the phone.

17 crores used for offering Pooja could have been used for mitigating drought itself, being the statement from opposition, Srinivas Poojary, Minister for Mujarai in his inimitable style replied "Pooja is also offered for mitigating drought (Baragala)", that is his timely sense of humour well timed !

Deputy commissioner of Udupi District Dr. M T Reju, Additional DC Kumar, Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat, Kaup MLA Lalaji R Mendon, Udupi zilla panchayath CEO Prabhakar Sharma, Udupi zilla panchayath president Katapday Shanker Poojary, Udupi district BJP Chief Uday Kumar Shetty, Udupi Taluk Panchayath president Devadaas Hebbar, BJP leaders Somsehkar Bhat, Gujjady Prabhakar Nayak, Upendra Nayak and others were present on the occasion