Dharmasthala mass burials case: Another witness complainant comes before SIT
Mangaluru: A third individual, who has chosen to remain anonymous, has reportedly written to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), requesting to be included in the operation to exhume human remains allegedly buried secretly in Dharmasthala village. The complainant claims to have personally witnessed the locations where the first complainant was said to have buried the bodies.
Addressing the letter to SIT chief Pronab Mohanty, the third complainant mentioned that he is writing on behalf of the residents of Dharmasthala and surrounding villages. “As a villager, I have identified the person, the first complainant seen in broadcast media reports. I have seen him secretly transporting and burying bodies at multiple locations in Dharmasthala village, away from public view. Even though such burials were done in secrecy, you must be aware that nothing remains hidden in the villages,” the complainant wrote.
He requested to be independently involved in the operation to exhume the remains from the locations indicated by the first complainant. He further appealed to the SIT to allow him to independently identify the exact sites where he witnessed the secret burials.
The complainant also stated in the letter that the ongoing operations by the SIT, formed by the Chief Minister to ensure an impartial investigation into the alleged crimes in Dharmasthala, have encouraged him to step forward without fear. He expressed his determination to cooperate with the SIT, which he believes has been constituted for the safety and protection of the people.
Responding to the letter, an assistant investigating officer from the SIT confirmed receipt of the application and said it has been reviewed. The officer advised that any information or complaint regarding a crime should be submitted to the local jurisdictional police station.
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Congress committed to social justice, says Karnataka CM; hits out at JD(S), BJP
BJP Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday asserted that the Congress remains firmly committed to social justice, both in principle and practice.
"The Congress is a party committed to social justice. This ideological commitment has been demonstrated not merely through words but through action," the CM said in a statement, underlining that the party has consistently translated its philosophy into governance.
He said his recent article marking Social Justice Day has sparked debate.
Defending the piece, he said: "An article I wrote for a newspaper as part of Social Justice Day celebrations has sparked multifaceted debate in the state’s political circles. If water remains stagnant, it turns into slush; if it flows, it becomes clearer."
"The social system is similar—if it does not remain rigid and instead becomes dynamic, it transforms in a people-centric manner. From this perspective, I welcome the discussion surrounding my article," he added.
Stating that his commitment to social justice is longstanding, the CM said, "Whether in power or out of it, my stand in favour of social justice has remained unwavering. I have greater clarity about the caste system among us than the politicians criticising me."
"I am prepared for a public debate on this issue," Siddaramaiah added.
Responding to criticism from Union Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Kumaraswamy, he said, "I have taken his allegation—that I have ‘dragged caste into the picture for the sake of a chair’—lightly."
Launching a sharp attack on JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and his family, Siddaramaiah added, "Kumaraswamy and his revered father Deve Gowda are certainly not casteists; they are against their own caste. More importantly, they are family-centric. For them, caste is merely a vote bank."
He alleged that past, present, and future top JD(S) leaders would always be members of the Gowda family, questioning how many Vokkaliga leaders the party had nurtured during Deve Gowda’s long political career.
The CM maintained that it was the Congress that had identified and politically groomed Vokkaliga leaders.
"From Kengal Hanumanthaiah to S M Krishna, hundreds of Vokkaliga leaders have been nurtured. If Kengal Hanumanthaiah, Kadidal Manjappa, and S M Krishna became chief ministers, it was because of the Congress," he said, adding that several prominent Vokkaliga leaders are currently in the party.
"If one day anyone other than a member of Deve Gowda’s family becomes chief minister, it will be through the Congress," he noted.
Highlighting inclusivity, Siddaramaiah said the Congress has enabled leaders from Vokkaliga, Lingayat, and backward communities to become chief ministers in Karnataka, and expressed gratitude to party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for giving him a second term.
He added that leaders from the Dalit community who rise to the CM's post do so on merit, not merely caste. "I can confidently say that if someone from the Dalit community becomes chief minister in the future, it will be possible only through the Congress,” he reiterated.
He questioned whether the JD(S) or the BJP in the state is capable of fostering such aspirations. "This is the difference between the Congress, the BJP and JD(S). Therefore, I urge those accusing me of practising caste politics to introspect," the CM said.
