Enraged over denial of permission for Shobha Yatra, Sangh Parivar extends Datta Mala Abhiyan indefinitely

The Datta Mala Abhiyan, a campaign taken up by the Sangh Parivar activists to adorn the sacred thread at the disputed hill shrine of Bababudangiri, has been extended indefinitely after the Government refused to accord them permission for taking out controversial Shobha Yatra.

The Datta Mala Abhiyan, which began on October 1, was scheduled to conclude on Sunday with the Sangh Parivar activists taking out a Shobha Yatra from Chickmagalur town to the cave shrine atop the Bababudangiri hillock. The sacred thread was to be removed during a ritual inside the cave shrine.

But, the Shobha Yatra fizzled out in the face of the Government’s firm refusal to lift the prohibitory orders that were in force in Chikmagalur town. The enraged Sangh Parivar activists said the Datta Mala Abhiyan will continue will the Government lifts the ban orders and permits the Shobha Yatra.

Bajrang Dal’s Karnataka’ unit Chief Mahendra Kumar said the activists will not relinquish the saffron scarves and the sacred thread till the Government accords them permission for taking out Shobha Yatra. Several BJP leaders including Chikmagalur MLA C T Ravi had adorned the sacred thread.

Scores of Sangh Parivar activists including C T Ravi met Chickmagalur’s Minister in charge of the district D H Shankarmurthy, who also belongs to the BJP, and requested for the withdrawal of the prohibitory orders. Though Shankarmurthy met Deputy Commissioner Nilaya Mithash and Superintendent of Police Vipul Kumar in Chickmagalur, the two senior officials told the Minister that they are not in a position to life the ban till “clear-cut” directions came from the Government.

Vipul Kumar told reporters that the ban orders will be implemented in letter and spirit. “Those who try to violate the order will be arrested”, Vipul Kumar said pointing out that a total of 4,000 security personnel had been deployed in the area in view of the Sangh Parivar’s programme.

A total of eleven check-posts had been sent up in various parts of the town and security atop the hillock, where the cave shrine is located, has also been adequately tightened. “Policemen were also guarding every temple and mosque in the town”, he said.

Meanwhile, BJP legislators including C T Ravi met Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa in Bangalore on Saturday and brought pressure on him to secure permission from the Government for taking out the Shobha Yatra.

The coalition cabinet in scheduled to meet in Bangalore on Saturday evening to take stock of the situation in Chickmagalur and take a final decision on the Shobha Yatra.