Chamundi Hills open to all faiths, says Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar
Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday defended the decision to invite writer Banu Mushtaq for the inauguration of Mysuru Dasara, countering BJP’s objections.
Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha, Shivakumar said Chamundi Hills is a shrine open to people of all faiths. “People from every community visit Chamundi Hills and pray to the Goddess. We too visit mosques, dargahs, Jain basadis, churches, and gurdwaras. Has anyone ever stopped us from entering a gurdwara? Have we objected to people of other faiths entering Hindu temples? Anyone is free to go to any place of worship,” he said.
Questioning BJP’s stance, he remarked: “So many Hindus have converted to Islam or Christianity, and many from other faiths have embraced Hinduism. Don’t Muslims also follow Hindu traditions in certain practices? Why is there no board in Ayodhya saying only Hindus should come to Lord Rama? Why this selective objection now?”
Shivakumar further asked why, if BJP truly objected to minority representation, they did not abolish Haj Committees or the Minority Affairs department when they were in power. “All of this is politics,” he said, stressing that India is a secular nation where the Constitution guarantees rights and freedom to every citizen.
He added that even children of interfaith couples have the freedom to follow the religion of their choice, protected under the Constitution.
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Couple, son 'hacked' to death over witchcraft suspicion in Jharkhand's Palamu
Medininagar (PTI): A couple and their 18-year-old son were allegedly hacked to death over suspicion of practising witchcraft in Jharkhand's Palamu, police said on Sunday.
Their minor daughter was also injured in the attack late on Saturday, a police officer said.
The bodies were recovered from their house on Sunday in Panki police station area, he said.
“Initial investigation suggests that the case is related to witchcraft suspicion,” Manoj Kumar Jha, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Lesliganj told PTI.
A manhunt is on to nab the culprits, Jha said.
The girl suffered severe injuries and has been admitted to a government hospital, he said.
The deceased have been identified as Vijay Bhuiyan (45), his wife Kalia Devi (40), and their son Chotu Bhuiyan.
The bodies have been sent to Medinirai Medical College and Hospital (MMCH) for post-mortem examination.
