Mangaluru: Former ministers S R Mahesh and C S Puttaraju, along with a large number of JD(S) workers and devotees from Mandya and Mysuru districts, visited Dharmasthala on Monday.During their meeting with Sri Kshetra Dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade, they said efforts to spread lies by vested interests would be opposed, and also expressed commitment to safeguard the dignity and honour of Dharmasthala. Devotees arrived in over 400 four-wheelers, had the darshan of the deity, offered mass prayers, and received ‘anna prasada’.Condemning the false rumours and misinformation about the pilgrim centre, thousands of devotees, led by Hanumanthappa Guruji, participated in a padayatra from Nethravati Bathing Ghat to the temple. They prayed for punishment for the accused and for Dharmasthala to continue to flourish as a revered site. Later, they met Heggade, and received his blessings.Alleging a smear campaign, conspiracy, and negative propaganda on social media against the Dharmasthala temple, a memorandum was submitted by Belthangady Nagarika Hitharakshana Vedike to the govt through the tahsildar of Belthangady. In the memorandum submitted by MLC Prathap Simah Nayak and others, the govt and police have been urged to resolve the issue quickly and safeguard harmony.Dharma Jagruti YatreA massive Dharma Jagruthi Yatre was taken out in Dharmasthala with MLAs, the MP, district leaders of the BJP from Dakshina Kannada, and devotees participating in it. Around 5,000 devotees and followers from Mangaluru, Moodbidri, Bantwal, Surathkal, Ullal, and Belthangady taluks, along with elected representatives, visited Dharmasthala as part of the yatre. After praying near Annappa Swamy Hill, they recited Shiva Panchakshari in front of the temple. They then had a special prayer and the darshan of the temple diety.Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta, former MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, former minister B Nagaraj Shetty, MLC K Pratapsimha Nayak, MLAs Harish Poonja, D Vedavyas Kamath, Y Bharat Shetty, U Rajesh Naik, BJP district president Sathish Kumpala, Harikrishna Bantwal, Alva’s Education Foundation chairman M Mohan Alva, and others were present. “A prayer was offered to Lord Manjunatha for the cessation of the ongoing false propaganda against the Hindu faith centre,” the MP said.“It is pleasing that the truth is being revealed by the grace of God. The enthusiasm to continue all service activities has arisen due to the encouragement of the devotees of Dharmasthala and numerous followers,” said Heggade.Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged Dharmasthala mass burial case has widened its investigation across Karnataka after the arrest of a complainant-witness on Saturday. Police are verifying his background, while teams are also questioning people associated with him in Mandya and Tamil Nadu. YouTuber Sameer, who was booked for allegedly spreading false information through an AI-generated video on the case and triggering public outrage, appeared before the police for the second consecutive day. His background, including financial transactions, is also under scrutiny, it is learnt.
