Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar seems to be sailing in two boats on the issue of Dharmasthala burials case, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Sunday.

“On the one hand, Mr. Shivakumar suspects conspiracy behind the whole issue, while on the other hand, he blames the BJP for the protest against digging in Dharmasthala. This ambivalence is not easily understood,” he told reporters in Varur near Hubballi.

He was responding to Mr. Shivakumar’s statement on the BJP organising protests against SIT investigation. He has made a comment saying that Dharmasthala is not the BJP’s private property.

“What does he mean by this? Should we keep quiet when Hindu holy places are under attack?” he said. He said that he strongly suspected that there is a conspiracy to take over the Dharmasthala temple by the State government.

“There is reason to believe that there is such a conspiracy. That is because the Congress government has tried to take over the wealth of Hindu temples in the past,” he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister should clarify what he means by his statement. “Has any BJP leader claimed that Dharmasthala is BJP’s private property?” he asked.

The State government has formed the SIT on the statement of an anonymous man. Will it order a SIT probe if someone says there has been a spate of murders in a dargah?” he asked. He sought action against vested interests who are making “irresponsible statement” about Dharmasthala.

Sri Gunadharanandi Maharaj, seer of the Jain math in Varur, said that the SIT probe will uncover the truth and expose the lies being spread about Dharmasthala.

He said that the government should take action against those who are spreading slander against the holy place.