Tourism Tussle: The Battle Over Karkala's Parashurama Statue

Karkala BJP MLA V Sunil Kumar criticized the Congress leadership and state government for stalling the Karkala tourism project. Central to the controversy is the 33-foot bronze statue of Lord Parashurama. Kumar emphasized the project's approval and funding, accusing opposition leaders of blocking progress for political reasons.

Karkala BJP MLA V Sunil Kumar has launched a critique against local Congress leaders and the state government, accusing them of hindering the progress of Karkala's tourism project for over a year. He pointed out that the Parashurama Theme Park, which secured Rs 11.05 crore in funding, is essential for boosting local tourism.

The controversy centers around the 33-foot bronze statue of Lord Parashurama, with Congress questioning its authenticity. Kumar defended the initiative, attributing delays to political opposition and noting that Rs 4.33 crore of allocated funds remain unreleased.

Kumar also tackled the detention of sculptor Krishna Naik, clarifying that the statue's temporary disassembly was for alignment as per expert advice. He criticized the Congress claims regarding the statue's construction material and reiterated the need for swift fund release in light of the project's impact on tourism development.

(With inputs from agencies.)