Dharmasthala Mystery: Karnataka BJP Chief Demands Clarity on SIT Probe

Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra has called on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to disclose who pressured him to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate allegations surrounding the Dharmasthala case, a controversy that has stirred significant unrest among devotees of the revered Manjunathaswamy Temple. The demand comes amid ongoing exhumations prompted by an anonymous complainant’s claims of being coerced into burying multiple bodies, raising questions about the case’s credibility and motives.

Speaking to reporters, Vijayendra pointed to a sudden reversal in Siddaramaiah’s stance, noting that the Chief Minister had initially ruled out forming an SIT two weeks ago, only to announce its formation the next day. “Who pressurized Siddaramaiah to constitute the SIT? This is a very important question the Chief Minister must answer to the people of Karnataka,” he said, alleging a “big conspiracy” targeting the temple town of Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada. The BJP leader demanded transparency, urging the government to reveal the forces behind the probe and the complainant’s background.

Vijayendra also referenced Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s recent statement in the Karnataka Assembly, where he acknowledged a “big conspiracy” behind the allegations. “The way the SIT conducted its probe and the false propaganda was spread, attracting state, national, and international media attention, has hurt crores of devotees,” Vijayendra said. He accused certain organizations of orchestrating the controversy to tarnish the temple’s reputation and target BJP and RSS leaders, including national general secretary B.L. Santhosh.

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The BJP chief, joined by party legislators, vowed to raise the issue in the Assembly, seeking answers from Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G. Parameshwara. He further warned that if the government dismisses the matter lightly, devotees of the Manjunathaswamy Temple, a prominent pilgrimage site, may take to the streets in protest. “As devotees, it is our duty to protect Dharmasthala’s sanctity,” Vijayendra asserted, signaling potential escalation to the party’s high command or the Union Home Minister if transparency is not provided.

The controversy intensified following a BJP delegation’s visit to Dharmasthala on August 17, led by Vijayendra and including MPs, MLAs, and MLCs, to express solidarity with temple Dharmadhikari D. Veerendra Heggade. The delegation criticized the government for failing to curb misinformation, with Vijayendra demanding an interim SIT report be tabled in the Assembly. The case, involving allegations of mass burials, has sparked a political slugfest, with the Congress defending the SIT’s formation while accusing the BJP of politicizing the issue.

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