Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of exploiting the Dharmasthala case for political gain, dismissing their “Dharmasthala Chalo” rally as a “political yatra” rather than a genuine quest for justice. Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Siddaramaiah defended the ongoing Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into allegations of mass burials in the temple town, emphasizing that it operates independently without government interference to uncover the truth.
The controversy erupted after C.N. Chinnaiah, a former sanitation worker, claimed he buried numerous bodies, including those of women showing signs of sexual assault, in Dharmasthala over two decades, implicating the temple’s administration. The SIT, led by DGP Pronab Mohanty, has conducted excavations along the Netravathi River, recovering skeletal remains at two sites, but Chinnaiah’s claims were undermined after his arrest for perjury, with forensic analysis revealing discrepancies in his evidence.
Siddaramaiah rejected the BJP’s demand for a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe, questioning their trust in the state police. “Dharmasthala’s Dharmadhikari, Veerendra Heggade, welcomed the SIT probe to clear suspicions. Why does the BJP doubt our police?” he asked, noting that the BJP initially supported the SIT but now seeks to politicize the issue. He dismissed their allegations of foreign funding behind the controversy as baseless, retorting, “Who’s funding the BJP’s rallies?”
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The BJP’s “Dharmasthala Chalo” rally on September 1 saw nearly one lakh participants, including leaders like B.Y. Vijayendra and R. Ashoka, who accused the Congress government of orchestrating a smear campaign against the revered Manjunatha temple. Vijayendra demanded an NIA or CBI investigation, alleging a “national and international conspiracy” to defame Dharmasthala. The rally followed weeks of BJP criticism, with leaders like Tejasvi Surya questioning the SIT’s formation and alleging bias against Hindu institutions.
Addressing claims that Chinnaiah’s allegations were a Congress-orchestrated plot, Siddaramaiah called the BJP’s accusations “false” and inconsistent, pointing out their shifting narratives. He stressed that the SIT’s goal is to establish facts, not target anyone, and urged the public to await its findings. “The truth must come out to end the suspicion hanging over Dharmasthala,” he said.
On the related 2012 Soujanya rape and murder case, Siddaramaiah clarified that any reinvestigation depends on the victim’s family approaching the courts, noting that the CBI, under the BJP-led central government, had previously acquitted the main accused, Santhosh Rao, for lack of evidence. He criticized the BJP for encouraging the family to appeal to the Supreme Court while accusing them of “speaking on both sides” for political gain. Regarding a new claim that Soujanya was kidnapped, Siddaramaiah questioned why the witness did not come forward during the CBI probe, calling the withholding of evidence a potential offense.
The Dharmasthala case has fueled a heated political row, with the BJP and its ally JD(S) staging protests to defend the temple’s reputation, while the Congress insists it is committed to an impartial investigation. Home Minister G. Parameshwara has reiterated that the SIT, which has full autonomy, will continue its probe until a logical conclusion is reached, rejecting calls for an NIA takeover. As both sides trade barbs, the case remains a flashpoint in Karnataka politics, with the SIT’s findings likely to shape public and political perceptions of this sensitive issue.
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