Sacred Flames Ignite Political Fury: BJP's Fiery Protest Against Alleged Protocol Snubs in Chamarajanagar

In a dramatic display of political defiance, the Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) orchestrated a unique and deeply symbolic protest in Chamarajanagar, performing a powerful 'homa' (fire ritual) right outside the recently inaugurated Zilla Panchayat office. The sacred flames, usually associated with prayers and purification, were lit not for auspicious beginnings, but to symbolically 'cleanse' what BJP leaders decried as the 'dirty politics' of the ruling Congress government.

The genesis of this fiery protest lies in the contentious inauguration of the new Zilla Panchayat building.

BJP leaders vehemently alleged a blatant and deliberate violation of established democratic protocols. At the heart of their grievance was the conspicuous absence and exclusion of prominent local BJP figures, most notably Chamarajanagar MP V. Srinivas Prasad and former MLA N. Mahesh, from the inaugural ceremony.

More insultingly, their names were allegedly omitted from the commemorative plaque, despite their significant roles in the project's inception or representation of the constituency.

The original inauguration, graced by the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and a host of Congress ministers including R.

Eshwar, K. Venkatesh, and H.C. Mahadevappa, became a flashpoint. BJP leaders, led by District President N. Nandeesh and General Secretary M. L. N. Phaniraj, along with other key figures like S. Balaraju and K. R. Mallikarjunappa, condemned the move as a direct affront to the dignity of elected representatives and a stark abandonment of democratic principles.

Addressing the agitated gathering, N.

Nandeesh articulated the party's outrage, stating, "This new Zilla Panchayat building has been inaugurated by the Congress government, but it has been tainted by their dirty politics and disrespect for protocol. Our local MP, V. Srinivas Prasad, who has tirelessly worked for the development of Chamarajanagar, was deliberately ignored.

His name should have been prominently featured, and he should have been invited as per established norms. This 'homa' is our way of purifying this building from the unholy touch of such divisive politics."

The protest wasn't just a spontaneous outburst; it was a carefully planned act to draw attention to what the BJP views as a systemic disregard for federal and democratic etiquette.

The party demanded an immediate apology from the state government and urged a swift rectification of the perceived injustice, including the proper recognition of the excluded leaders. The event underscored the escalating political tensions in Karnataka, with both major parties locking horns over issues of protocol and representation, leaving the newly constructed ZP office as a silent witness to the charged political atmosphere.

This incident also brings to light the broader question of political courtesy and protocol in public events involving multi-party representation.

The BJP maintained that such exclusions not only disrespect individual leaders but also undermine the very spirit of inclusive governance, turning public infrastructure projects into partisan battlegrounds. As the smoke from the 'homa' dissipated, it left behind not just the scent of ritual, but a potent message of protest and a clear challenge to the ruling dispensation.