No non-Hindu vendors for Kukke Subrahmanya Temple fest, orders Hindutva outfit in Karnataka

Lord Subrahmanya is the presiding deity of the temple, located on the banks of the River Kumaradhara in Dakshina Kannada, 105 km from Mangaluru and 280 km from Bengaluru, the state capital.

Residents said Muslims had been conducting business — mostly selling flowers — for ages. But they have not been conducting business on the temple premises for the past couple of years for fear of reprisal.

Soon after the poster was put up, the district authorities swung into action and removed it. The jurisdictional police, however, said they were unaware of any such developments.

Hindutva group justifies the ban

“A ban has been imposed on non-Hindu traders and vendors from doing business during the Champa Shashti, an annual fair, at Kukke Subrahmanya Temple. This order is ‘Of the Hindus, By the Hindus and For the Hindus”, the poster read. It ends with the Sanskrit phrase Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah (Dharma protects those who protect it).

To justify its action, the far-right outfit accused Muslims of targeting Hindus.

“Atrocities against Hindus by Muslims are increasing. It is one of the main reasons that traders and vendors from other religions have been banned from conducting business on the temple premises,” Rajesh Panchodi, co-convener of HJV, Puttur, told South First.

Panchodi raised several arguments, from the so-called “love jihad” to “murders of Hindus”. “We had zero animosity towards any religion. The investigation into the 26 July murder of BJP Yuva Morcha worker Praveen Nettaru revealed that many Muslim traders were part of the conspiracy,” he alleged.

He, however, did not mention the murder of Mohammed Fazil, 23, two days later, in apparent retaliation for killing Nattaru, 32. The Yuva Morcha worker’s murder, according to the local police, was an offshoot of the 20 July murder of one Masood, 19, who was killed after a squabble over a calf. Nattaru was not connected with the murder but was reportedly a random selection — the same was the case with Fazil.

Pachodi asserted that the ban on Muslim vendors would continue in the region. “We are planning to carry out a special drive to educate the administrations of all Hindu temples to do the same,” he added.

HJV had chaired a meeting with temple authorities before putting up the poster.

“The decision on banning non-Hindu traders was taken at a meeting the temple authorities had with the members of the Hindu Jagaran Vedike. Even the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1997, has a provision allowing temple authorities to take such a decision. We are not violating any law,” Mohanram S Suli, chairman of the Management Committee, Kukke Subrahmanya Temple, said.

When asked if non-Hindus would be allowed to set up stalls outside the temple premises, Mohanram said: “The temple property is spread over around 100 acres. There is no question of allowing people from other religions to carry out business within the temple property.”

What does the law say? 

The temple administration, however, seems to have misinterpreted the law. Hindutva outfits and temple authorities have in the past, too, made references to an amendment to the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Rules, 2002.

Rule 31 (17) of the law refers to long-term leases and renewals concerning the immovable property of a notified institution. Sub-rule 12 states: “No property including land, building, or sites situated near the institution shall be leased out to non-Hindus.”

It is this sub-rule that those opposing non-Hindu vendors have been referring to while justifying the ban.

The rule, however, does not apply to makeshift stalls set up during temple fests, or on public spaces such as roads, and footpaths.

The police in the dark

Stating that all people are devotees of the Kukke Subrahmanya Temple, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ravikumar MR told South First: “We have removed the poster, which was put up outside the temple premises. The matter has been closed.”

“Everyone is friendly in the town. No untoward incidents will happen. All are devotees of the Lord,” he added. The official, however, did not comment on if non-Hindus will be allowed to do business during the fest.

Panchodi contested the DC’s statement that the poster was removed. “The poster is still in the same place. If the district administration attempts to remove the poster, we will put 100 more posters across the town,” he said.

When South First contacted the Superintendent of Police, Rishikesh Bhagawan Sonawane, he expressed ignorance about the poster.

“I do not know about the poster. Action will be initiated against Hindu outfits if and only someone files a case,” the officer said.

He refused to comment on if such posters amounted to promoting enmity between religious groups.

The Subrahmanya police confirmed that no case has been registered. When asked whether any effort was made to remove the poster, police replied that ‘the temple falls under Muzrai Department’.

Previous incidents

Incidentally, this was not the first incident of banning non-Hindu vendors. The Hosa Marigudi temples in Mangaluru, on 22 March 2022, had barred Muslim traders from participating in the auction for stalls to be put up during the annual Suggi Mari Puja.

The second such incident was reported from Shivamogga on 23 March 2022. The committee members of Kote Marikamba Temple had asked a contractor to cancel the awarding of stalls to Muslims. Similar incidents were reported in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Chikkamgaluru and several other districts in the state.

Such incidents led to a heated debate in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly in March 2022. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai defended the temple authorities on the floor of the House.

“The state government cannot interfere if the ban is legal. As per the law, non-Hindus are not allowed to put up stalls near temples during festivals. This decision completely lies with the temple authority. This is something that the government cannot interfere with,” he said.

The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) condemned Bommai’s statement.

Politically motivated move  

Several Muslim leaders, including Deputy Opposition leader U T Khader and Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad, condemned the HJV’s act.

“These are Hindutvawadi (followers of Hindutva) outfits not Hindu organisations. This Hindu Jagaran Vedike is one of the Hindutva outfits that keep dividing Hindus and Muslims. It makes a continuous effort to ignite animosity between the two religions to help the BJP return to power,” Arshad said, adding that such incidents were politically motivated.

“Hindus and Muslims of this country are brothers by blood. It is impossible to destroy the unity and harmony between the two religions neither by the Hindutva outfits nor any other organisations,” he said.

“We are like brothers. In the coming days, those behind these incidents will be exposed for destroying peace between the two religions,” the MLA added.