The Hindu : Karnataka News : Court order on priest's appointment awaited

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 27, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Court order on priest's appointment awaited

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, JULY 26. The State Government today told the Legislative Assembly that it would await the verdict of the Karnataka High Court on the issue of Hindu priests performing puja at the Datta Peeta shrine at Bababudangiri in Chikmagalur district.

Replying to a question from Sunil Kumar (Bharatiya Janata Party) during Question Hour, the Minister for Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs, M.P. Prakash, said that as per tradition, "muzawars" performed pujas in the shrine, and a petition demanding the appointment of a Hindu priest was pending before the High Court.

The shrine was a symbol of harmony and peace between Hindus and Muslims, and during the tenure of the previous government (in 2003) a six-member committee had been appointed to manage the affairs of the shrine. The Minister said the Government would not tolerate any attempt to destroy the communal harmony at the shrine.

BJP dharna

Mr. Sunil Kumar and some BJP members, who were dissatisfied with the Minister's reply, staged a dharna before the Speaker, Krishna, for a while, demanding that Hindu priests be allowed to perform puja. The Speaker told the BJP's senior members to restrain their colleagues and asked them to send a notice requesting a detailed discussion on the subject.

Murder probe

Shivananda Naik (BJP) criticised the Government for its "failure" to arrest the accused in the alleged murder of Thimmappa Naik, a BJP worker, at Bhatkal in Uttara Kannada district about two months ago.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Mr. Naik said 20 persons were murdered since 1993 in Bhatkal, and the police had not solved a single case. He demanded that the Government arrest those culprits responsible for the murder of Thimmappa Naik and expedite the probe.

Mr. Prakash said the Government would give a reply on the issue on Tuesday.

Pakistan flag

M.P. Renukacharya (BJP) demanded that the authorities take action against some anti-national elements who hoisted Pakistan's national flag at Sirur village of Honnali taluk recently.

The police had arrested innocent people, he charged.

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