Bengaluru, 14 Aug

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said there was a massive conspiracy to tarnish the image of Dharmasthala, in the backdrop of the 'mass burial' case being probed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). 

“I believe in Dharmasthala and its administrative board,” he said in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday.

The Opposition BJP had accused the Congress government of a “slander campaign” against the temple town, over the massburial case.

“This place has lakhs of believers, let’s not politicise this,” Shivakumar remarked. “Why would Congress party intervene in this? Don’t drag the Congress High Command into this. The Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala has been doing yeoman service, we have no doubt about it. Someone has alleged crimes due to an internal feud. When many complaints have come, the Home Minister or the State government can’t ignore them. We believe in the holiness of Dharmasthala more than you”.

Similarly, Home Minister G Parameshwara said that action can be taken under the law against the complainant-witness if the Special Investigation Team (SIT) finds his allegations to be false.

"The police are doing their duty in the pursuit of justice, but that does not mean they will follow everything the complainant says. There is a limit, and the truth will emerge in due course," Parameshwara said in the Assembly.

Hitting back at BJP criticism, Parameshwara said, "The government has given the SIT a free hand. We haven’t made a single phone call to the SIT Chief because we want the truth to come out."

Speaking to reporters later, Shivakumar said, “A conspiracy is being hatched to destroy hundreds of years of legacy. It is not correct to tarnish someone just like that. It has all happened due to one complainant.”

“Many members have spoken about this issue. I have told them that action must be taken against those who are misleading the investigation,” he added. “The CM has also said that action must be taken against such people. I have information on this case. Dharma must not be tarnished. Culprits must be punished”.

The complainant, a former sanitation workerwhose identity has not been revealed, alleged that between 1995 and 2014 he was forced to burry hundreds of bodies—including women and minors—and that some showed signs of sexual assault.

The State Home Minister also said that a new law will be brought against those who allegedly make hate speech that has hurt and incited communal sentiments in recent years.

“In the coastal region, communal harmony has been disturbed in recent years,” he said. “Hate speech and provocative posts on social media have led to violence. Therefore, a new law will be implemented against those who make hate speech in the coming days.”