Dharmasthala case is 'empty trunk' and 'big conspiracy' to tarnish temple town, says D K Shivakumar

Bengaluru: In a significant statement, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday brushed aside allegations of mass burials at Dharmasthala, dubbing it as a dud case and a "big conspiracy" to defame the temple town.

"There's a big conspiracy underway. I won't say who's behind it. But it's a well-planned strategy to tarnish (Dharmasthala) and defame a legacy of hundreds and thousands of years...efforts are on to destroy that," Shivakumar told reporters.

Shivakumar's statement came even as a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by his own government is investigating the serious allegations in Dharmasthala for nearly a month now.

"Whatever be the religion, Hindu or anyone, sentiments mustn't be hurt. We won't protect the guilty. But this (case) was created out of nothing," Shivakumar said. "I know the entire detail. This case is an empty trunk, which is just making noise."

Shivakumar sneered that a "masked man" (complainant) gave a statement before court (on having buried bodies). "Since the matter was in court, a professional investigation was initiated," he added.

At the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting held on Tuesday, Shivakumar said he and a few other lawmakers sought action against those indulging in slander.

"Myself, KM Shivalinge Gowda, Ashok Kumar Rai and Belur Gopalakrishna said in the CLP meeting...we must go deep and take action as per law against those misguiding and slandering. Even the chief minister called for indiscriminate action," he said.

Earlier, Shivakumar spoke about the Dharmasthala case in the Assembly and expressed faith in Veerendra Heggade, the hereditary administrator of the temple town.

"I believe in Dharmasthala. I believe in that temple. I believe in the Dharmadhikari (Veerendra Heggade)," Shivakumar said, urging the opposition BJP not to drag Congress into it. "The Karnataka Congress government is committed to stand by their philosophical and religious work," he said. "Why will Congress get involved? Someone has come out due to an internal feud. We are very firm that the relation between the devotee and the deity shouldn’t be destroyed. We believe in the holiness of Dharmasthala more than you,” he said.