Will shed blood for 'Hindu Peeta', says SRS chief at Datta Mala Abhiyana procession

Chikkamaguluru: In a rather controversial statement, Pramod Mutalik, founder of Sri Rama Sene (SRS) on Sunday said that the organisation would continue its struggle and if required even shed blood to ensure the cave shrine atop the Bababudangiri Hill was declared a Hindu place of worship.

Participating in the Datta Mala Abhiyana procession Muthalik said “I wish to convey to the State government that we will not stop this struggle until the mission is completed. If we have to give our blood for the cause, we are ready for it.”

The  Dattamala Abhiyana, which is being organised by the SRS for several years now, saw Sene workers and Datta devotees from different parts of the State participating in huge numbers. The procession began at Shankara Mutt at Basavanahalli Extension and concluded at Bolarameshwara Temple, where the devotees held a meeting, before proceeding for the shrine in private vehicles.  

Mutalik also hinted that the issue could be resolved peacefully if political leaders willed to do so. Pointing out at a similar controversy surrounding the Idga Maidan in Hubballi, which was resolved by former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Muthalik urged Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to resolve this dispute like his father.

“There is a separate dargah in Nagenahalli. Let that be the place of worship for those who visit the dargah and the Datta Peetha be declared a Hindu place of worship. The government should resolve this soon,” he said.

Nearly 2500 policemen were deployed at the hill station to avoid any untoward incidents during the Dattamala Abhiyana.