Verbal duel between BJP, Congress over Dharmasthala excavation
Bengaluru (PTI): The ruling Congress and opposition BJP traded charges on Sunday over the ongoing excavation in Dharmasthala, based on allegations of multiple murders, rapes and burials, particularly of young women and girls over the past two decades.
BJP state president B Y Vijayendra, leading a party delegation, visited Dharmasthala to pay obeisance to presiding deity Manjunatha Swamy and Annappa Swamy and sought the blessings of 'Dharmadhikari' Veerendra Heggade.
Vijayendra reiterated that the BJP has no objection to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the state government to probe the allegations, but demanded action against those spreading "false propaganda" about Dharmasthala.
"The BJP had never opposed SIT investigation by state government regarding the Dharmasthala matter. But now the issue is that the district in charge minister Dinesh Gund Rao has stated that due to the pressure of leftist groups, the state government was forced to constitute SIT," the BJP state chief said.
He pointed out that Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar himself had acknowledged a "big conspiracy" behind the Dharmasthala episode.Vijayendra asserted that his party's stand is "very clear."
"We don't want to interfere in this SIT investigation, but during the course of the SIT investigation, there is a lot of false propaganda in social media against Dharmasala Manjunatha Swamy and Annappa Swamy temple. We demand state government, our chief minister and home minister take up this propaganda very seriously and carry out a proper investigation," he said.
He added that the allegations "cannot be a hit-and-run case."
"Whoever may be the complainant, the veracity and persons behind this complaint and the forces working in this entire episode need to be investigated, because lakhs and lakhs of devotees have been hurt, their sentiments have been hurt because of this false propaganda," the Shikaripura MLA said.
Vijayendra further argued that nothing concrete had emerged so far. "The entire episode has to be thoroughly investigated, which means the person who has given the complaint, the leftist groups and the forces which are working behind this propaganda need to be investigated," he said.
Asked about the BJP's intention behind the visit, he said: "After the state government constituted the SIT or ever since the investigation started, crores and crores of devotees of this temple have been hurt due to propaganda. So our demand to the state government is to take this propaganda seriously, and a proper investigation has to be carried out. In this regard, we visited Dharmasthala."
He also clarified that the BJP "was not interested in politics from day one."
"Our stand is very clear. We have welcomed the state government's decision to constitute the SIT. The only issue and the serious matter is that nobody can tolerate propaganda during the course of investigation," he said.
Countering the BJP, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar termed the visit as politically motivated.
"BJP's visit to Dharmasthala is a political tour. It's neither 'Dharma-Yatra' nor to pay respect to Dharmasthala or related to Hindu religion, but just a 'Political Yatra'," Shivakumar told reporters in Bengaluru.
He questioned why the BJP remained silent when the SIT was formed.
"Why did they (BJP) encourage Hindu fora when they conspired against Dharmasthala? But now they are speaking (in Dharmasthala's favour)," the Deputy CM, who is also Congress state president, said.
Meanwhile, excavation work in Dharmasthala was halted on Sunday.
All eyes are now on Home Minister G Parameshwara, who has promised to make a detailed statement in the Assembly on Monday, after BJP pressed for clarity on the excavation after a complaint alleging "hundreds of burials" near the Nethravati river and around Dharmasthala. The complaint was made by a former sanitary worker whose identity is kept anonymous.
The BJP has also sought action against the complainant and urged the government to disclose his identity and antecedents.
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Have no personal involvement in Cong’s action against some minority leaders: Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said he has no personal involvement in action taken against certain Congress leaders from the minority community following allegations of an internal conspiracy during the recently held Davanagere South bypolls.
He clarified that the decisions were taken by the party high command based on available reports.
Asserting that party discipline is of utmost importance, Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, sought to downplay concerns that action against minority leaders may send the message that “Muslims are being targeted.”
“I don’t have any personal involvement in this. Whatever decisions are taken are made by the party leadership. The party has its own reports. Decisions regarding MLAs or MLCs cannot be taken at the state level without instructions from Delhi,” he said.
Speaking to reporters, he added, “People may blame me; I am not concerned. Everyone must function in accordance with party discipline.”
Responding to concerns within sections of the party that recent actions may convey the impression that minority leaders are being targeted, he said the Congress exists for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minorities, backward classes, farmers, and all sections of society.
The Congress has suspended MLC K Abdul Jabbar from primary membership and relieved another MLC, Naseer Ahmed, from the post of Chief Minister’s political secretary.
The action followed allegations by a group of Muslim leaders that certain party members conspired to defeat the official candidate in Davanagere South.
Following the action, speculation has emerged that Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan may also face disciplinary measures during the next cabinet reshuffle.
The three leaders had reportedly sought a Muslim candidate for the Davanagere South bypoll ticket, which the party instead allotted to the late MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa’s grandson, Samarth Mallikarjun.
They were also said to have not actively participated in the campaign.
Shivakumar also rejected claims of factionalism within the ruling party amid speculation that leaders close to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were being targeted.
Naseer Ahmed and Zameer Ahmed Khan are considered close to the CM.
Rejecting allegations of factionalism within the party, Shivakumar said, “We speak to each other every day. It is the media that creates divisions. Where is my faction? Has anyone put up a board saying they belong to the Siddaramaiah faction? Have I put up any such board?”
“All 139 legislators are my people, and they are all Siddaramaiah’s people as well. Everyone belongs to the Congress,” he added, saying there are no factions within the party and that such claims are media-driven.
Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satish Jarkiholi met Shivakumar on Friday, a day after expressing concerns that disciplinary action against minority leaders may send the wrong message.
Shivakumar said he discussed with Jarkiholi the need to decongest Bengaluru traffic by diverting vehicles entering the city from state and national highways, along with party-related issues.
“We also discussed political matters in the interest of the party and the need to work together,” he said.
Later, speaking to reporters, Jarkiholi said he discussed with Shivakumar the issue of withdrawing Jabbar’s suspension. He said he will also visit New Delhi next week to meet the high command and discuss state developments.
“Jabbar’s suspension was discussed (with Shivakumar). It should be withdrawn. Let’s issue him a notice and allow him to reply. Then let’s send the report to the high command and seek their approval. High command approval is necessary because the instructions came from there. It may take some time,” he said.
Stating that he met the KPCC chief for “damage control,” the minister said, “We have tried to convince him. Sometimes certain decisions happen that need rectification.”
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