Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya alleged that the state government had hurriedly constituted an SIT to probe what he described as “patently absurd” claims, when preliminary verification itself could have shown them to be baseless.
Published Aug 25, 2025 | 9:38 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 25, 2025 | 9:38 PM
Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya
Synopsis: The Opposition BJP in Karnataka on Monday launched a statewide ‘Dharmasthala Chalo’ march, accusing the ruling Congress of being part of a conspiracy to malign the Dharmasthala temple. Tejasvi Surya and BY Vijayendra alleged that the Special Investigation Team was hastily constituted to probe “baseless” charges brought by the now-arrested whistleblower, and demanded that the case be handed over to central agencies such as the CBI or the NIA.
Days after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested the whistleblower in the Dharmasthala controversy on charges of perjury and allegedly furnishing “fake evidence”, the Opposition BJP in Karnataka has intensified its attack on the ruling Congress government, accusing it of being part of a “larger conspiracy” to tarnish the reputation of the Dharmasthala temple.
On Monday, 25 August, Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya flagged off the BJP Bengaluru South unit’s “Dharmasthala Chalo Yatra” at NICE Road in the city.
Addressing party workers, he alleged that the state government had hurriedly constituted an SIT to probe what he described as “patently absurd” claims of mass graves of sexual assault and murder victims, when preliminary verification itself could have shown them to be baseless.
Later in the day, State BJP President BY Vijayendra announced a “Dharmasthala Chalo” movement culminating in a massive rally at Dharmasthala on 1 September. He urged the Hindu community across districts to gather in “lakhs” to protest against what he called acts that “hurt Hindu sentiments” and to demand that the probe be handed to the NIA.
In a post on X earlier in the day, Surya posed “five questions” to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, asking whether his government had “failed to see they were baseless, or were complicit in a larger conspiracy.”
He alleged that the Congress high command in Delhi had interfered in the SIT’s formation, claimed foreign funding was involved, and accused “YouTube channels, hostile portals, even the BBC” of running a “coordinated fake news campaign.” He demanded that the case be handed over to the CBI.
“If your conscience is clear, why not hand this case to the CBI? Will you show the same urgency for a fair investigation as you did in hurriedly constituting the SIT, or is your government afraid of what a CBI probe will reveal?” he wrote.
Five Questions to CM Sri @siddaramaiah on the #DharmasthalaCase.
1. On the SIT
The allegations of an unnamed masked man were absurd on the face of it – yet your government treated them as gospel, ignoring contrary advice from a few senior police officials to at least hold a…
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) August 25, 2025
Surya linked the controversy to what he described as Congress’ “divisive agenda” targeting Sanatana Dharma at the “instance of Rahul Gandhi.” He said the state government had pushed “divisive legislations” on fake news, the creation of an anti-communal task force in coastal Karnataka, and the Rohith Vemula Bill, which he alleged were intended to pit one Hindu against another.
“Isn’t the Dharmasthala controversy part of this broader agenda to weaken Sanatana Dharma and divide Hindu society?” he asked, adding: “Does this defame Dharmasthala campaign have Rahul Gandhi’s blessings?”
In Mysuru, former Minister Sara Mahesh led a Dharmayatra with hundreds of vehicles heading to Dharmasthala. He invoked the historic importance of the shrine for pilgrims across the state, noting its longstanding role in social welfare and in supporting women through low-interest financial assistance.
“To spread false propaganda against such a sacred place is unjustified,” he said. “Dharmasthala and the Dharmadhikari will definitely come out clean from these baseless allegations.”
Vijayendra repeated Surya’s allegation against the Siddaramaiah-led government of driving “false propaganda.”
“State government did not initiate any action against the people who were doing false propaganda. Naturally, people are very hurt about this entire development. Initially even BJP welcomed the SIT… but looking at the way things are developing, there seems to be an international conspiracy also. There seems to be funding from internationally also,” he said, speaking at a press conference.
He demanded a clear timeline for the SIT’s investigation. “It cannot go on digging the ground in Dharmasthala without any time limit… Already people are upset. We are not blaming SIT here. But there should be a stipulated time period.”
Accusing Congress leaders of shifting positions, Vijayendra claimed that District In-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao had admitted that the government was “under tremendous pressure” in referring the case to SIT, while Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar himself later suggested the existence of a “big conspiracy.” He argued the ongoing investigation had become “a big joke” as the complainant kept altering his statements and the shrine continued to be portrayed negatively in “international media.”
“To restore the confidence in Dharmasthala among the devotees, there has to be a fair investigation, hence we are demanding an NIA investigation,” he said.
In response to the BJP leaders’ charges, Home Minister G Parameshwara dismissed the demand for an NIA probe and defended the ongoing SIT enquiry.
“Who are we to dictate to the SIT on how to investigate the case? The police will do what is necessary, as per law,” he told reporters in Mysuru.
“I cannot decide if a narco-analysis test is needed or not. The SIT is investigating properly. There is no need to hand over the case to the NIA. The truth won’t come out through statements. First, the politicians should stop issuing statements.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
