BJP delegation visits Dharmasthala, demands apology from CM over mass grave controversy

Mangaluru: Senior BJP leaders, including MPs, MLAs and MLCs, visited the Dharmasthala pilgrimage centre on Sunday as part of their ‘Dharmasthala Chalo’ campaign against what they termed false propaganda surrounding the alleged mass grave case.

The delegation, led by state BJP president and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra, offered prayers at the Manjunatha Swamy temple and later met Dharmadhikari and Rajya Sabha MP D. Veerendra Heggade to discuss the controversy.

Speaking to reporters, Vijayendra demanded that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah apologise to devotees for the state government’s failure to stop what he called defamatory campaigns against Dharmasthala. “The BJP is not doing politics over this issue. There is a conspiracy to hurt the religious sentiments of crores of devotees who have faith in Lord Manjunatha and Annappa Swamy of Dharmasthala,” he said.

He pointed out that Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao had admitted that the SIT was formed under pressure from Left groups, while Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar himself had spoken of a conspiracy. “He himself claims that this is a conspiracy and says that he is an ardent devotee of Lord Manjunatha of Dharmasthala. If he is a true devotee, then without delay, he should expose the conspiracy and reveal who is behind it,” Vijayendra said.

The BJP leaders demanded that the government present an interim SIT report in the Assembly, alleging that misleading information was being spread on social media under the guise of investigation. “I cannot say how the investigation should proceed. But the state government should present the interim report of the probe. This madness should not continue -- it should be brought to an end,” Vijayendra stressed.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, said Heggade and devotees were “deeply hurt” by the controversy. “The fact is that nothing has been found here, and the allegations have turned out to be false. Devotees believe that this is a conspiracy and that the state government has joined hands with Leftist forces. We cannot tolerate attempts to damage the reputation of Dharmasthala and hurt devotees. It is in this context that we have come here. We stand firmly with the Dharmasthala pilgrimage center,” he said.

The BJP maintained that it supported the SIT investigation but accused the Congress-led government of failing to protect the sanctity of Dharmasthala.