Thousands of VHP and Bajrang Dal activists on Monday abandoned plans for a puja at the Baba Budangiri shrine in Chikamagalur.
CHIKAMAGALUR/KARNATAKA: Thousands of VHP and Bajrang Dal activists on Monday abandoned plans for a puja at the Baba Budangiri shrine in Chikamagalur. The decision came after the Karnataka government ordered a crackdown on any overtly religious gathering near the controversial shrine.
The activists had come to Chikamagalur over the last few days for the Shobha Yatra and the puja, which was scheduled for Monday. Members of the BJP Yuva Morcha and Sangh Parivar activists said they were disappointed at having to abandon the puja.
But members of the JD(S) said they wanted to abide by the law. The BJP is expected to hold a press conference later on Monday evening to explain its stand on the issue.
The Chikamagalur MLA, C T Ravi ---- who is also the state president BJP Yuva Morcha ---- said he will go to the court if he is not allowed to perform puja at Datta Peeta.
“We are only doing darshan. District administration has not allowed us to do puja though puja was performed till 2003. According to 1986 court order, Hindus could perform puja. Now, we will go to people’s court. The BJP supports VHP’s five demands, which include daily puja at the Hindu religious temple,” Ravi said.
The serene hill-town of Chikaamagalur has suddenly become the base for Hindutva politics in Karnataka, with the BJP making renewed attempts to make the Datta Peeta the Ayodhya of the South.
Datta Peeta, apart from being a Hindu temple, is also home to the dargah (Muslim shrine) of Sufi saint Bababudan Saheb. Ever since communal problems arose in the area in 1975, the district administration has checked the BJP’s attempts to hold Shobha Yatras.
There had been several attempts to saffronise the Bababudan Saheb’s shrine in the past. The BJP had held a procession under tight security on Saturday, but later abandoned plans to hold a puja at the cave temple on Monday.
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