In a setback to Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi, the Jain community of Sarapur village in Hukkeri taluk has rejected a ₹40 lakh grant announced for building a community hall within the premises of the Shantinath Digambar Jain Mandir.
Jarkiholi had declared the sanction on Thursday while addressing the media at Hill Garden in Gokak, stating that the funds were being provided in response to requests from Jain community members across Hukkeri taluk. “We have sanctioned two halls to begin with, and members can collect the order copy,” he said.
However, elders of the Sarapur Jain community convened a meeting on Friday evening and unanimously decided to reject the grant. “We never asked for these funds, as the hall is already under construction. The timing of this sanction, during elections, clearly indicates its intent. We would have welcomed it either earlier or later, but not now. Hence, we reject it,” the leaders stated.
They added that the project is already supported by contributions, including ₹14 lakh from the fund of former MP Ramesh Katti and ₹5 lakh from the fund of the late MLA Umesh Katti, as well as private donations.
The rejection is seen as a major embarrassment for the Jarkiholi faction, which is engaged in a high-stakes battle with the Katti family in the upcoming Hukkeri Rural Electric Cooperative Society elections for 15 director posts. While Satish, along with his brothers MLA Balachandra and MLC Lakhan, and his children MP Priyanka and Rahul, is campaigning for the Appanagouda Patil Panel, the Swabhimani Panel led by Ramesh Katti, MLA Nikhil Katti and senior Congress leader A.B. Patil is mounting a strong challenge.
With polls scheduled for September 28, the Jain community’s rejection of government funds has added a sharp political twist to the Jarkiholi-Katti rivalry in Hukkeri.
