A 108-foot-tall watch tower constructed for Rs 7 crore at Royal Circle in Bellary has become the centre of a political controversy. With its inauguration nearing, former minister B. Sriramulu has stirred debate by stating that if the BJP comes to power, the tower will be demolished and rebuilt according to a new model.
The watch tower, which includes a four-faced lion emblem atop it, was constructed using public funds. Reacting strongly to Sriramulu’s remarks, Ballari MLA Nara Bharat Reddy slammed the BJP, accusing them of destructive politics. “While Congress focuses on development, the BJP only talks about demolition,” he said.
Sriramulu had initially proposed replacing the old clock tower with a new structure during his tenure as the district in-charge minister in 2023. He had also prepared blueprints for a design inspired by the Libyan model. However, after Congress came to power, MLA Bharat Reddy secured the necessary funds and completed the project based on a different design.
Pointing to the deviation from his proposed blueprint, Sriramulu criticised the final structure as “shapeless” and pledged to reconstruct it if given a chance. In response, Bharat Reddy defended the design, stating, “We don’t need a foreign model. An Indian design with a four-faced lion is enough. The structure will not be allowed to be brought down. It has been built with people’s money.”
The issue has sparked a wider debate, with allegations and counter-allegations flying between BJP and Congress leaders. Citizens are voicing concerns that political gamesmanship is overshadowing genuine developmental efforts in Gani Nadu’s Bellary city.