BENGALURU: Water resources and medical education minister DK Shivakumar has raked up a controversy, stating the religion of the doctor who is treating Siddaganga mutt pontiff Shivakumara Swami in Chennai.“I’m very happy that Shivakumara Swami is fast recovering. It’s all because of the expertise and effort of Dr Mohammed Rela, a Muslim, who runs the world-class Dr Rela Institute and Medical Centre. Therefore, we all should keep one thing in mind that there is no point in playing politics in the name of caste or religion,” Shivakumar said, soon after he arrived at Sambra airport in Belagavi to attend the winter session of the legislature.His statement, an apparent move to appease minorities, triggered angry reactions from the junior pontiff of the mutt and the BJP leaders who accused him of playing politics in the name of religion.On Saturday, Shivakumar had called on the 111-year-old seer in the hospital. On Friday, the pontiff was airlifted to the Chennai hospital where he underwent an operation to treat his liver and bile duct infection.Junior pontiff Siddalinga Swami said: “There is no caste in noble professions like doctors and teachers. The minister’s statement is in bad taste. Our society considers doctors as equivalent to God. For them, there is no caste or creed.”BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa and former deputy CM R Ashoka hit out at Shivakumar for “playing politics in the name of the Walking God.”“As a senior minister, he should not stoop to such a level. He is free to play politics in Vidhana Soudha or on the streets but not in hospitals and mutts,’’ they added.‘No intention to hurt anyone’If my statement has hurt the mutt or anyone, I tender an apology. I had no intention of playing politics, as is being alleged by the BJP. After visiting the hospital, I was impressed with the expertise and dedication of the doctor. So I made that statementDK Shivakumar, medical education ministerPontiff recoveringShivakumara Swami is recovering after the surgery at the Chennai hospital. In a statement on Monday, the hospital’s CMD Dr Mohamed Rela said: “He is beginning to mobilise in the intensive care unit and his vitals are stable.”