Dharmasthala case: JD(S) leader seeks probe to unearth conspiracy behind allegations

Former Minister and working president of the JD(S) State unit S.R. Mahesh on Sunday urged the Karnataka government to conduct a probe and find out the persons behind the conspiracy aimed at bringing the Dharmasthala temple authorities under a cloud of suspicion.

Addressing a press conference in Mysuru, Mr. Mahesh said that he suspected a role of ‘unseen hands’ behind the complainant, who alleged that he had buried a large number of corpses in the temple town. Hence, there was a need for a probe to expose the persons involved with the complainant, who has now been arrested by the police, he added.

Mr. Mahesh said that the Dharmasthala temple authorities, which carries out a number of religious, educational, and social upliftment activities, also contributes to building temples in different parts of the State, including the K.R. Nagar assembly constituency, which he earlier represented.

He said that two rallies will be taken out from Mandya and Mysuru on Monday to condemn the attempts to defame Dharmasthala temple. While former MP and JD(S) leader C.S. Puttaraju will lead the protesters from Mandya in several cars, another group of people comprising C.N. Manjunath and Vivekananda, MLCs; former Mayors; and former corporators will take out a rally in Mysuru early on Monday.

About 200 cars from Mandya will join the protesters from Mysuru at Yelwala and proceed with the rally.

Fielding queries from reporters, Mr. Mahesh took serious exception to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s prediction of a poor tally for JD(S) in the next election, and said it was for the people of the State to decide on the matter. He referred to the results of the last Lok Sabha polls, and said that the people of the State had already shown how much votes JD(S) and BJP will secure in the upcoming elections.

Seeking to remind the Chief Minister of his earlier stint with the Janata Parivar, Mr. Mahesh said it was unbecoming of him to criticise his old dwelling after moving to a “palace”.

Mr. Mahesh also took a dig at Mr. Siddaramaiah for not having any “faith” on his Cabinet colleagues by refusing to hand over the finance portfolio. Reminding the Chief Minister of his own statement that former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda chose him for the Finance Minister’s post during the earlier Janata Dal tenure as he wanted somebody on whom he had faith, Mr. Mahesh asked why Mr. Siddaramaiah felt the need to keep the Finance portfolio with him. “Don’t you have any faith on anyone among the 32 Ministers of your cabinet?” he questioned.