Vitthal Heroor supporters set one-week deadline for statue installation

The Vitthal Heroor Abhimaniagala Samiti has given the district administration one week to install a statue of former MLC Vitthal Heroor at Afzalpur cross near the Karnataka High Court, or else they threaten to stage a protest on October 16. During a press conference, samiti members Avvanna Myakeri and Basavaraj Bodihal revealed that the circle had already been named after Heroor in 2015, located on the route towards Afzalpur, where the late leader had a close association.

Myakeri expressed concern over the issue potentially causing unnecessary differences between the Koli-Kabbaliga and Kuruba communities, which maintain cordial relations. He accused some individuals of installing a statue of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the proposed Heroor statue location overnight on September 16. Myakeri appealed for community leaders to avoid actions that could harm the harmonious relationship between the two communities.

He asked the Kuruba community leaders and Siddaramaiah followers to choose an alternative location for the Chief Minister’s statue, while expressing support for the Koli-Kabbaliga community. Myakeri highlighted Heroor’s role in mobilizing AHINDA communities for Siddaramaiah and urged Siddaramaiah, an AHINDA leader, to advise his community not to oppose Heroor’s statue installation.

If the administration fails to install Heroor’s statue within the given time, the samiti warned of a large-scale protest by members of the Koli-Kabbaliga community on October 16.