Date:06/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/06/stories/2006100613710500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

State in a bind over Shoba Yatra

Special Correspondent

VHP activists arrive in Chikmagalur

Ban orders clamped in Chikmagalur

Decision expected after Kumaraswamy's return from Mysore

Bangalore: The coalition Government in the State is in a serious dilemma on whether to accord permission for the Datta Mala and Shoba Yatra programmes at Bababudangiri-Datta Peetha as demanded by the Bharatiya Janata Party and its affiliated organisations.

Meanwhile, there is palpable tension in Chikmagalur with the authorities clamping prohibitory orders under Section 144.

According to reports, several thousand activists of Bajrang Dal and the VHP have already arrived in the Malnad district to participate in the Datta Mala programme scheduled to be held on Sunday. The Rama Sene headed by Pramod Muthalik in a blatant violation of the prohibitory orders led a large number of devotees to the cave shrine under the very nose of the police. He was later arrested by the police.

Sources in the State Government told The Hindu here that the three main demands of the BJP pertained to taking out a procession from Chikmagalur to Datta Peetha, putting up buntings in Chikmagalur town and en route to the Datta Peetha and conducting "homa" in the proximity of the Datta Peetha. As of now, prohibitory orders are in effect till October 8 (the day on which the Datta Mala would come to an end).

Minister for Home M.P. Prakash told The Hindu that a solution to the sensitive issue was expected on Friday after Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy returned to Bangalore from Mysore.

A meeting of the coordination committee of the BJP and the Janata Dal (S) which was scheduled for the day was cancelled.

Kumaraswamy's stand

At Mysore, the Chief Minister held to his earlier statement that the Government would abide by the High Court decision on holding Shoba Yatra at Bababudangiri. "Any decision will only be within the framework of the court decision," he pointed out. The Chief Minister said the Government could not arrive at a decision to suit the interests of any given political party but the interests of the State as a whole.

Deputy Chief Minister B.S.Yediyurappa, Minister for Water Resources K.S. Eshwarappa and the State unit president of the BJP D.V. Sadananda Gowda have indicated to the Janata Dal (S) that the issue should be amicably resolved and it would be ensured that all the programmes in Chikmagalur were in accordance with the observations of the Karnataka High Court.