The Opposition BJP hit out at the Stage government for “denigrating Hindu places of worship” such as Dharamasthala in Dakshina Kannada by ordering a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe, which has so far not found evidence of the burial of over 100 bodies as claimed by a complainant.

V. Sunil Kumar (BJP) raised the issue during the zero hour in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday and demanded that Home Minister G. Parameshwara table an interim report of the SIT in the House. The SIT team, which had not been able to find skeletal remains, has been digging new sites shown by the complainant and providing scope for spreading rumours against the temple, he claimed.

Keep in custody

S. Suresh Kumar (BJP) said the SIT should keep the complainant in its custody to ensure an impartial probe into the Dharmasthala mass burial case. Now, the complainant arrives at the spots identified as burial sites accompanied by his persons claiming to be his lawyers. How can a probe be impartial if the complainant was allowed to be in the custody of advocates, he questioned.

Mr. Parameshwara said he would be able to make a statement in the House only after the probe is completed and the SIT submits the report to him. However, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok demanded the Home Minister make a statement on the matter on Wednesday.

Araga Jnanendra (BJP) alleged that organisations affiliated to the Left ideology were largely responsible for “denigrating the image of the temple.”