114-ft Christ statue planned in Shivakumar bastion sparks BJP, RSS protest

The Bharatiya Janata Party and RSS on Monday staged a protest against the proposal to construct a 114-ft tall statue of Jesus Christ at Kapalibetta in Kanakapura. Terming it the Kanakapura Chalo’ protest, the BJP is expecting hundreds to converge at Kapalibetta.

The statue is the pet project of Congress strongman DK Shivakumar. Shivakumar cautioned his supporters, saying, I urge everyone not to be instigated or provoked.’’

DK Shivakumar said, " It is not my decision but that of villagers of Christian community, being MLA I have to help. Land was given for it, everything is legal."

The local administration has pressed into service over 1,000 policemen, including armed police units, to ensure peace.

Harobele, where the statue is to come up, is a village dominated by Christians in Shivakumar’s constituency. The community has been living for about 400 years.

On the occasion of Christmas, DK Shivkumar handed over the documents of the land to the trust that will shoulder the responsibility of installing the statue -- which if constructed will be made from hard granite.

Height of the statue will be 114 feet, 13 feet of the statue would be comprised of steps, which have already been laid. Christ The Redeemer statue in Rio Di Janeiro, Brazil stands at 98 feet, excluding its 26-feet pedestal.