BJP leaders, devotees and seers participate in pro-Dharmasthala protest in Belagavi
Protestors wearing raincoats and holding umbrellas gathered in heavy rain in the old city. They began their rally from Dharmaveer Sambhaji Circle and reached the Deputy Commissioner's office through Kirloskar Road, Maruti Galli, Ganapati Galli, Kakativesa, Rani Chennamma Circle and submitted a petition there.
BJP leaders, members of Hindutva groups, some seers of Lingayat and other maths, devotees of Dharmasthala and others participated.
They submitted a memorandum addressed to the President, through the Deputy Commissioner.
KLE Society chairman and former Rajya Sabha member Prabhakar Kore addressed the protestors at the end of the rally. He said that Dharmasthala is not a place limited to Hindus or Jains.
It is open to devotees from all castes and communities and faith groups. He said that there is a strong suspicion that vested interests are behind a systematic slander campaign against it.
He urged the State government to take legal action against those who are spreading misinformation about Dharmasthala.
It is true that the State government formed a Special Investigation Team to look into claims of mass killings. However, despite digging at so many places, the SIT recovered no evidence. This proves that the allegations made against Dharmasthala by vested interests is false, he said.
This is a conspiracy to insult Hindu holy places, he said. He demanded that the conspiracy be investigated.
Sri Chandrashekar Shivacharya Swami said that Dharmasthala is a religious centre that unites Hindu society. 'It has been carrying out several charity programmes and social welfare schemes. All of us, especially women and farmers who have benefited from these programmes, should protect its reputation. We all have to stop the conspiracy against Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade's family and Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala,' he said.
'They have been feeding the poor and hungry for decades. The State government should wake up immediately and conduct a thorough investigation into the conspiracy hatched against it. We will not tolerate any misinformation about the constituency in the coming days,'' he said.
MLA Abhaya Patil raised questions about the police informer, the masked man. 'Who is this person, with whose help is he committing the offence? What was he doing all these years? All these questions need answers. The truth needs to come out. The anonymous man needs to be subjected to a thorough examination and the truth needs to be revealed. The State government should think seriously about this. Otherwise, a strong protest by Hindu society will be launched across the State,' Mr. Patil said.
The former MLC Mahantesh Kavatagimath, the former MLAs Anil Benake, Mahantesh Dodagoudar and Sanjay Patil, Jagadish Hiremani, Jain community leaders Vinod Doddannavar, Sheetal Ushada Patil, Pramod Kocheri, BJP leaders Murughendra Patil, Subhash Patil, M.B. Zirali and others led the rally.
Seers Sri Panchama Shivalingeshwara Mahaswamy, Siddhasamsthan Math, Nidsosi, Sri Sampadana Mahaswamy, Sri Sampadana Charamurthy Math, Chikkodi, Sri Neelkantha Mahaswamy, Sri Mahanta Duradundeshwara Math, Murugoda, Sri Prabhuneelkantha Mahaswamy, Morusavira Math, Bailhongal, Sri Gangadhar Mahaswami, Madivaleshwar Math, Hosur, and others were present.
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