DK Shivakumar is not becoming CM: Smriti Irani on Congress leader’s temple promise

Union Minister Smriti Irani on Friday hit out at Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar over his promise to construct Lord Hanuman temples in the state.

"It is better if DK Shivakumar avoid make promises like building temples in the state. He is not going to be the chief minister anyway," Irani told reports.

Smriti Irani's statement comes a day after Shivakumar said the Congress if voted to power will construct new Hanuman temples in the state.

Paying obeisance to Goddess Chamundeshwari in Mysuru on Thursday, Shivakumar promised to either build more Hanuman temples or renovate the existing ones all over the state.

"We have constructed Lord Rama's escort Anjaneya (Hanuman) temples and we too are his devotees, especially we Kannadigas where there are evidences to show that Anjaneya was born here," said Shivakumar.

"If we come to power, Congress will formulate special policies for the development of all the important Anjaneya temples especially those historic places associated with Anjaneya," he added.

Shivakumar's promise comes after the Congress faced severe backlash over its manifesto equating Bajrang Dal with the banned outfit Popular Front of India (PFI).

"We believe that law and Constitution is sacrosanct and can not be violated by individuals and Organisations like Bajrang Dal, PFI or others promoting enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities. We will take decisive action as per law including imposing a ban on any such organisations", the Congress manifesto for poll-bound Karnataka read.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading the BJP charge against the Congress over the Bajrang Dal row, urging people to chant 'Jai Bajrangbali' in every poll rallies.