BJP Leaders Rally at Dharmasthala Amid Mass Grave Controversy: What’s Behind the Tensions?
BJP's Dharmasthala Chalo Campaign
Mangaluru: On Sunday morning, BJP leaders, including MLAs, MPs, and MLCs, gathered at the Dharmasthala pilgrimage site to pay their respects to Lord Manjunatha Swamy as part of their 'Dharmasthala Chalo' initiative. This campaign aims to counter the ongoing misinformation surrounding the alleged mass grave incident.
The delegation, led by BJP state President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra, met with Dharmadhikari D. Veerendra Heggade to discuss the situation regarding the mass grave allegations.
The BJP has called for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to apologize to millions of devotees for the government's failure to address the spreading propaganda. They also challenged Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to reveal the supposed conspiracy against Dharmasthala, which he has previously mentioned.
The campaign was launched on Saturday morning, with a convoy of 300 vehicles transporting BJP leaders from Bengaluru to Dharmasthala. Prominent figures, including the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, and various BJP representatives from the coastal region, participated in the temple visit.
In a media briefing at Dharmasthala, Vijayendra urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to apologize for not curbing the false narratives surrounding the issue. He emphasized that the BJP is not politicizing the matter but is concerned about the potential harm to the religious sentiments of countless devotees.
Vijayendra highlighted two critical points: first, that Mangaluru District In-Charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao claimed the formation of the SIT was influenced by Leftist groups, and second, that Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar acknowledged a conspiracy behind the mass grave case.
He stated, "We are here because a defamatory campaign is being waged under the guise of investigation. It was the state's duty to halt this misinformation, and their inaction constitutes a crime."
Vijayendra further questioned the Congress-led government's response to the allegations made by Minister Rao and Shivakumar regarding the conspiracy against Dharmasthala.
He reiterated that the BJP is not engaging in political maneuvering over this issue but is concerned about the conspiracy that threatens the faith of millions. He pressed for accountability from the state government and demanded an investigation into those spreading false allegations.
Vijayendra challenged Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar, who claims to be a devoted follower of Lord Manjunatha, to expose the conspiracy without delay.
He remarked, "If the BJP had intended to politicize this issue, we would have acted sooner. The pain of millions of devotees is real, and Minister Rao's comments about Leftist involvement must be thoroughly investigated."
While he could not dictate the investigation's course, he insisted that the state government should provide an interim report to quell the ongoing turmoil.
The BJP leaders expressed their support for the SIT investigation, provided it is conducted transparently. They have consistently maintained that any doubts should be clarified, but they are concerned about the misinformation proliferating during the investigation.
Chalavadi Narayanaswamy added that they met with Veerendra Heggade, who is also distressed by the situation. He emphasized that the allegations have proven baseless and that devotees believe there is a conspiracy at play, with the state government allegedly colluding with Leftist factions. He affirmed their commitment to protecting the reputation of Dharmasthala and supporting its devotees.