BENGALURU: The government and the opposition Congress appear to have reached a "peace pact" over the issue of installing a statue of Jesus Christ atop Kapalabetta in Kanankapura taluk, Ramanagar district, putting the row on the backburner for now.While Harobele Kapalabetta Development Trust has shelved work on the 114ft statue — it sent labourers on a break for Sankranti festival and work hasn’t resumed since — the government has decided to go slow on its decision to recover the 10 acres of land granted by the previous JD(S)-Congress coalition government to the trust."The government at present is not looking into the issue. There is no proposal to take back any land, at least for now," revenue minister R Ashoka told TOI.The BJP appears to have instructed its rank and file to go slow on the issue, especially since it is grappling with the anti-CAA backlash."BJP functionaries appear to have realised that the issue could cost the party dearly on the political front," said S Gangadhar, president of Ramanagar district Congress unit. "Having antagonised Muslims with the CAA controversy, ruffling the Christian community would have added to its discomfiture."When the issue erupted almost a month ago, the revenue department had asked the Ramanagara district administration to submit a report on the land granted to the trust and ongoing work related to the installation of the statue.The Sangh Parivar alleged the land allotted to the trust was gomaala — reserved for cattle grazing. They claimed electricity and water supply connections were illegal. However, district officials admit they have not yet sent the report to the government. "The report is still being prepared and we will submit it at an appropriate time," said MS Archana, deputy commissioner, Ramanagar district.Meanwhile, Harobele Kapalabetta trust member Chinnaraju said the trust is in no hurry to resume work on the statue. "Our cause is a noble one and we don’t want to rush it," he said. "The government is looking at certain issues related to the project. We have furnished all the documents they wanted. We are prepared to wait."Reports suggest Kanakapura MLA and former minister DK Shivakumar of the Congress, who has patronised the project, has advised the trust to go slow in the interests of peace and harmony in the district."Initially, I guided the trust on how to legally get the land granted and even donated money to procure the land, but I have no role to play in it now," said Shivakumar.However, the Sangh Parivar said it will continue with its fight till the government takes back the land."There is no question of taking a backseat. It is not just about a piece of land, but a bigger issue of religious conversion. We will continue to fight and create awareness among people against the evils of conversion," said Hindutva ideologue Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, who led a protest march in Kanakapura earlier this month against the Kapalabetta project.HG Venkatesh, coordinator, Hindu Jagarana Vedike Ramanagara district unit, said the Sangh Parviar will hold protest rallies across district centres on February 15.