MYSURU: Condemning the Dharmasthala Chalo rally and the visit of BJP leaders to the family of late Soujanya, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah questioned the BJP’s stance and asked them to clarify whether they are supporting Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala, Veerendra Heggade, or Soujanya’s family.
It may be recalled that the family has alleged that Soujanya, a minor girl, was kidnapped, gang-raped, and murdered by persons close to the temple authorities.
Speaking to the media in Mysuru on Tuesday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “Dharmasthala Chalo is not a religious rally, it is a political one. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is investigating the matter, but they do not have faith in our police. They are demanding a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Ultimately, investigations are conducted by the police only. Don’t they believe in our police?”
He further asked, “Did the BJP demand an NIA probe in the beginning? For many days, they did not. Only when no dead bodies were found during excavation did they start demanding it.”
Quoting Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade’s response, Siddaramaiah pointed out, “What has Veerendra Heggade stated? He has welcomed the probe. Then why are they still demanding? The very person against whom the complaint is made has welcomed the investigation and maintained that the truth must come out so that the hanging sword of suspicion is removed.”
“We are getting the probe done, and we are not interfering. The investigation is being conducted independently. Let the truth come out, and let the people know, ” he added.
When asked about allegations of foreign funding, Siddaramaiah said, “BJP leaders have received money from abroad. If the BJP is carrying out all these activities, from where have they got the funding? Who is funding them? Politics should not be brought into everything. Let the opposition criticise, but not politicise every matter.”
On whether foreign funding had indeed taken place, the Chief Minister said he was unaware. “It will come out in the investigation, ” he said, adding that there was no truth in the allegations and termed them false.
Commenting on the BJP delegation’s visit to Soujanya’s family, Siddaramaiah asked, “Under whom does the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) come? The CBI has already conducted an investigation and given its report in the Soujanya murder case. Now, the same people (BJP leaders) are asking Soujanya’s family to appeal in the Supreme Court. In Soujanya’s case, against whom are the allegations made? Whose side is the BJP on? On one hand, they claim to stand with Veerendra Heggade, on the other, they claim to support Soujanya’s family.”
“The Soujanya case was investigated by the CBI, which functions under the Central government. Now, they say they will appeal to the Supreme Court, which, of course, is a decision for Soujanya’s family to make. But the question is, whose side is the BJP on? On the one hand, they raise slogans in favour of Veerendra Heggade, while on the other, they pit Soujanya’s family against him. Whose side are they on?” Siddaramaiah questioned.