BJP slams DKS remark on Chamundi Hills; seeks CM’s clarification

The BJP in Mysuru hit out at Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar over his recent remarks on Chamundi Hills, saying the temple did not exclusively belong to the Hindus.

Addressing the media here on Thursday, the BJP leaders alleged that the statement had hurt the sentiments of the people of Mysuru, who have centuries-old cultural and religious ties to the shrine.

The party spokesperson M.G. Mahesh said the objections to Shivakumar’s statements should not be viewed as a ‘’Hindu-Muslim issue, but the fact remains that the Congress was deliberately insulting the religious sentiments of the Hindus as a matter of policy”.

The “urban naxals” and “pseudo-progressives” had repeatedly attempted to insult Hindu traditions, and this government has exceeded all limits. “I ask Chief Minister Siddaramaiah whether he agrees with the views of Mr. Shivakumar,’’ the BJP spokesperson said.

Seeking clarification from Mr. Siddaramaiah within 24 hours, the BJP functionaries said they would be forced to outline their next plan of action to counter the Congress.

Referring to the Congress, Mr. Mahesh alleged that such incidents were part of a “toolkit” aimed at hurting Hindu practices.

In reply to a question on the government’s decision to invite Booker awardee Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate Dasara, Mr. Mahesh said the party was not against individuals. ‘’But when she opposes rituals and Goddess Bhuvaneshwari, she is opposing Hindu faith itself, whose culture is to deify all that is dear and held sacred,” said Mr. Mahesh.

Stating that people of Mysuru will not be silent witnesses to such usurpation of Hindu traditions and faith, the BJP leaders warned that religious pontiffs and organisations would decide the next course of action if no clarification came from the CM.

When it was pointed out that the Dasara as celebrated by the government was a cultural event, Mr. Mahesh said it was true with programmes in front of the Mysuru Palace. “But the core religious significance at the Chamundeshwari temple cannot be undermined,” he said.

The BJP functionaries, including city unit president and former MLA L. Nagendra, said there was a “larger conspiracy” to malign the Hindu faith.

Dharmasthala Chalo

Accusing Mr. Siddaramaiah of being influenced by “fake progressives and leftists”, they cautioned that power was not permanent and the same voters who had elected them, would throw them out if their sentiments were trampled upon.

Mr. Nagendra said that thousands of people from Mysuru would take part in the ‘Dharmasthala Chalo’ being organised by the party. “We expect about 1,000 people from every constituency in Mysuru city to participate and express our solidarity with Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade,” he said.