Bengaluru: In December 2019, the Yesu Krista statue in Harobele’s Kapala Betta near Kanakapura town, led to a massive controversy in the state. The RSS and other pro-Hindu organisations held a massive protest against Congress leader D K Shivakumar’s decision to build the statue on the hill. The state government even transferred the local Tahsildar, alleging that he is close to DKShi. He was being targeted as they claimed that he is constructing the statue to appease AICC interim-president Sonia Gandhi as a lobbying strategy for the post of KPCC president.

If sources in the Congress and BJP are to be believed, now, the state government is likely to allow the project to go ahead as DKShi was able to win them over on the issue.

“The state government had announced that it will reclaim the disputed land by January 25. But now, the state government has lost interest in the entire episode. The district administration has orally asked that the entire process be delayed,” sources informed.

“DKShi has good friends in the BJP. This incident has revealed his influence in the state government,” said a BJP leader.