BELAGAVI
Goans visiting Belagavi this summer will now have another added tourist attraction.
The renovated Rajhunsgad fort located near Yellur village, about 12 kms South of Belagavi, and a mammoth statue of Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj atop the fort will be dedicated to the people of the region on Sunday.
The fort which is renovated after it was in ruins and the statue has been erected by Belagavi Rural MLA Laxmi Hebbalkar.
This is the highest location in the region offering a panoramic view with asphalted approach road is expected to attract scores of tourists from Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka region. Constructed by the Ratt dynasty. The fort has a Lord Siddheshwara temple and a water storage tank apart from a few ruined structures.
However, the inauguration has been marred by political battles between BJP leaders in the region and Belagavi Rural MLA Laxmi Hebbalkar of Congress, who are engaged in political battle over the credits.
Amid controversy, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai had inaugurated the statue of Shivaji Maharaj on March 2. However, Hebbalkar, who has been instrumental in getting the historic fort developed and installing the mammoth statue, is holding a grand ceremony at Rajhunsgad on Sunday morning.
The statue of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will be unveiled again merely three days after Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai unveiled the same statue along with some of his cabinet colleagues and top bureaucrats.
Apart from top political leaders from Karnataka including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, MLA Hebbalkar is believed to have invited CM Bommai for the repeat unveiling of the statue on March 5.
Massive preparations have already begun on Saturday at Rajhunsgad by Hebbalkar and her party workers for the upcoming event on Sunday. The guest-list for the mega event includes AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, Legislature party leader Siddaramaiah, KPCC President D K Shivakumar, former Home Minister of Maharashtra Satej Patil, Marathi actor and Member of Parliament of Maharashtra Dr Amol Kole, Latur MLA Dheeraj Deshmukh, Hindi film actor Ritesh Deshmukh and many other prominent personalities.
A series of cultural programmes including a laser show, traditional dhol tasha, Mardani Khel and many other local events are also being held on Sunday evening.
