By Express News Service

MANGALURU:A temple that comes under Endowment Department in Mangaluru suspended a temple Yakshagana artiste two days ago for allegedly mimicking AICC president Rahul Gandhi and CM Siddaramaiah during a performance, considering it a violation of model code of conduct. However, the suspension is likely to be revoked as it was revealed that the incident took place in Kerala.

A villager filed a complaint with the Moodbidri Returning Officer (RO) V Prasanna stating that temple artiste Poonacha mimicked the duo by imitating the way they pronounced Basavanna's vachanas - 'Ivanarava ivanara...' and 'Nudidante Nade', on April 1. Based on it, the RO issued a show-cause notice to Kateel Temple trustee Atranna. In turn, the trustee suspended Poonacha two days ago. The RO told The New Indian Express that the incident was taken seriously as the artiste was considered a public servant as he was drawing salary from a temple that comes underEndowment Department.

However, he said that during a verification on Wednesday, conducted by himself along with the concerned accountant of the village where the Yakshagana show was said to have taken place, they came to know that the show in which the artiste had mimicked the leaders had taken place in Kumbla in Kasargod on March 27 and and not on April 1 as it wasalleged in the complaint. Following that, the RO withdrew the show- cause notice issued to the Kateel Te mple trustee. He said the Trustee can now revoke the suspension of the artiste.