Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Aug 10: Former MP and veteran Congress leader Janardhana Poojary has strongly come to the defence of Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr Veerendra Heggade amidst the ongoing SIT investigation into alleged mass burials in the temple town, questioning why only Dharmasthala is under scrutiny.

Speaking at the Muddukrishna programme in Thokkottu near Ullal on Saturday, Poojary expressed deep anguish, at one point tearing up. “Are burials not done in mosques and churches? Why single out Dharmasthala?” he asked emphatically.

“We stand firmly with Veerendra Heggade. The entire Kudroli Temple stands with you. Even if the SIT digs all over Dharmasthala, they will find nothing. It is an age-old tradition to bury the dead within temple premises. I know the challenges of managing a temple like Dharmasthala,” he said.

Poojary emphasised that Dharmasthala is sacred not only to Jains but to all communities. “No one can destroy Dharmasthala. I am a devotee of both Kudroli Temple and Dharmasthala. Chief Minister, what are you doing? The name of Dharmasthala is being dragged through the mud. I will not allow it,” he warned.

Taking a pointed dig at prime minister Narendra Modi, Poojary remarked, “PM Modi was in Karnataka. If he had the courage and strength, he could have come to Dharmasthala and given a speech.”

Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has conducted intensive searches in Dharmasthala over several days following anonymous allegations, but no evidence of burials has yet been found.