SIMMERING TENSION: The Sangh Parivar wants to
hold a Shobha Yatra despite it being banned
by HC.
http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/27599/is-chikamagalur-turning-into-s-indias-ayodhya.html
Chikamagalur (Karnataka): The serene hill-town
of Chikamagalur is becoming the base for Hindutva
politics in Karnataka, with the BJP making renewed
attempts to make the Datta Peeta the Ayodhya
of the south.
The Sangh Parivar wants to hold a Shobha Yatra
as part of the Datta Jayanti celebrations at
the Datta Peeta, the cave temple of Lord Dattatreya
- despite the Yatra being banned by the High
Court.
However, there is a hitch. Datta Peeta is also
home to a dargah (Muslim shrine) of a Sufi saint
named 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.
But this year will be different, because this
time the BJP is in power.
Karnataka BJP president, D V Sadananda Gowda,
says, "At this juncture, if we go away
from our own ideologies which we have been fighting
for, for years now, people will not believe
us and for hat reason, we ask our coalition
partner to permit us to have the Datta Mala
and the Shobha Yatra."
The issue has divided the coalition government.
There have been several attempts to saffronise
the Bababudan Saheb's shrine in the past, but
with the BJP in power for the first time in
Karnataka, it is being made sure that this time
around, the Datta Jayanti celebrations
drive home their point.
At the same time, another body, the Karnataka
Forum for Dignity and Communal Harmony, has
been protesting the BJP's plans.
On Saturday, they staged a demonstration at
Bangalore's town hall, protesting the arrest
of 300 NGO activists in Chikamagalur.
Vice-President, Karnataka Forum for Dignity,
Syed Khalimulla, says, "In the name of
Datta Jayanti celebrations, the Sangh Parivar
is spreading communal tension not just in Chikamagalur,
but all across Karantaka and it's becoming worse
everyday."
The BJP held its processions under tight security
on Saturday and it will hold a puja at the cave
temple on Monday, even as tension simmers in
Chikamagalur.
(With inputs from Deepa Balakrishnan in Bangalore)
Labels: Chikamagalur, Hindutva, Karnataka
