JD(S) demands NIA probe in Dharmasthala case to expose 'conspiracy'

JDS on Sunday demanded a National Investigation Agency NIA probe into allegations of multiple rapes murders and burials in Dharmasthala aiming to identify those behind the alleged conspiracy and smear campaign against the holy site and suspected foreign fundingThe party led by its youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy staged a rally titled Dharmasthala Sathya Yatre On reaching Dharmasthala JDS leaders marched from the Netravati riverbank to the Lord Manjunatha temple where they offered prayers and later met the temples Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade extending their supportNikhil said his father Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy had spoken to Heggade over the phone offering moral support on behalf of the party and JDS patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve GowdaAddressing the gathering Heggade said the kshetra always follows the path of truthI wont speak much as the SIT probe is not completed Until it is completed I will not speak much It is my responsibility to ensure that no mistakes take place in the kshetra Im ensuring that no mistakes or untoward things happen here Despite that when some allegations come we are ready to face them Such incidents have not taken place and will never take place in our kshetra he saidEarlier Nikhil Kumaraswamy told reporters that the NIA should take over the probe to ensure it reaches a logical conclusionThere is no question of doing politics in the Dharmasthala issue All of us should stand for Dharma and the truth should win Some antisocial elements have conspired and are behind this episode of spreading misinformation As devotees of Dharmasthala we want the truth to come before the people he addedHe further claimed there is suspicion that some international media houses and YouTube channels have been encouraged in a very organised and systematic way to produce content portraying Dharmasthala negativelyAs there may be international funding for this conspiracy we on behalf of JDS and as devotees of Dharmasthala demand that the NIA should take over the probe Nikhil claimedHighlighting earlier remarks by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on a conspiracy against Dharmasthala Nikhil said his father would seek a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to push for an NIA investigationThe union minister Kumaraswamy will address the media in New Delhi to share some information he has gathered from reliable sources regarding the role of people in the close circles of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah behind the government forming the SIT to probe the case he saidThe controversy erupted after complainant C N Chinnaiah later arrested on charges of perjury claimed to have buried multiple bodies including women with signs of sexual assault in Dharmasthala over the past two decades implicating temple administratorsThe stateformed SIT has carried out search operations at multiple locations along the Netravati River recovering skeletal remains at two sitesAlleging that the SIT probe has failed to uncover the truth while causing reputational damage to Dharmasthala Nikhil said The SIT should have conducted a preliminary investigation into Chinnaiah his background and his intentions when he allegedly came with a skull and some skeletal remains Instead of inquiring about him first all other things were doneJDS alliance partner BJP will hold a similar Dharmasthala Chalo rally on September 1This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever