Veerendra Heggade strongly justifies ban on entry of women at Sabarimala

Dharmasthala, Oct 23: D Veerendra Heggade, the Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala has strongly justified the ban on entry of women into Sabarimala temple and said that the age-old tradition must be preserved and respected.

Interacting with the media persons here today, he said: “the society must understand the intention with which these traditions have been formulated and not confused with devotion, which can be performed from one’s own home.”

When the Ayyappa vrathadharis can undergo this demanding 48-day penance including abstinence, it is also imperative that other devotees too follow suit. “Ban on entry of women is also to help with the tradition of allowing men folk going to the temple observe self-control,” he said.

These austerities are observed for self-control. "When one fails in self-control, it results in inequality and #MeToo incidents," he pointed out.

He said that such restrictions should not be seen as a move to deny equality to women. “We can see such restrictions in foreign countries too,” he said.

Manjusha museum

Dharmadhikari said that Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy would inaugurate the renovated Manjusha museum at Dharmasthala on October 24. The CM will also lay the foundation stone for widening of roads in Dharmasthala (to be implemented by PWD at a cost of Rs 23.5 crore).

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman would visit Dharmasthala on October 29 and launch LIC Pragathi Raksha for self help groups of Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project.

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Now who making partiality with women????

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‘Have letter, next step is...’: MUDA on Siddaramaiah’s wife’s offer to return plots

News Network

October 1,2024

Mysuru: The Mysuru land authority at the centre of a financial and political storm - involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and alleged losses of ₹ 45 crore to the state - has received an offer of restitution from his wife, the urban development body's Commissioner, AN Raghunandan said.

"I am in possession of a letter written by Siddaramaiah's wife regarding her intention to return 14 plots (of land). The Chief Minister's son, Yatindra Siddaramaiah, came to our office and delivered the letter. We will take legal advice for the next step..." he told reporters in Mysuru.

Mr Raghunandan also confirmed anti-corruption officials from the city's Lokayukta branch had written seeking cooperation in its inquiry into the charges against the Chief Minister.

He said the Mysuru Urban Development Authority, or MUDA, "will cooperate with the investigation".

The Enforcement Directorate, however, have not reached out as yet, Mr Raghunandan said. The ED, a federal agency, has filed a money laundering case against Siddaramaiah.

There have also been calls for the CBI, another federal agency, to investigate charges against the Chief Minister, but that appears unlikely now given the Karnataka government has withdrawn general consent for its operations in the state. Law Minister HK Patil made the announcement last week.

He ruled out any link with demands for the Chief Minister to be investigated by the CBI, which reports to the BJP-led central government and the ruling Congress and other opposition parties have claimed is being used by that party to target rival leaders, particularly before elections.

On Monday - three days after the Lokayukta filed a case against the Chief Minister, and hours after the ED launched its probe- Siddaramaiah's wife said she had planned to give up the land earlier but was advised against it the allegations against her husband are "politically motivated".

But now, she said, she had made up her mind as "no house, plot, or wealth is more important than my husband's honor, dignity, and peace of mind". She also said the decision was hers alone; "... I am not aware of my husband's opinion on this matter, nor do I concern myself with what my son thinks".

And, in a comment seen as a calculated swipe at the opposition BJP, which is leading calls for the Chief Minister's resignation, his wife also made an emotional appeal to "all political parties and the media" to "please not drag women of political families into the controversy to settle political scores".

Investigative action against the Chief Minister follows the Karnataka High Court quashing a challenge to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot's order sanctioning Siddaramaiah's prosecution.

Subsequently a trial court ordered framing of charges and directed the Lokayukta to complete the investigation within three months. The ED case was filed based on the Lokayukta FIR.

Siddaramaiah faces an inquiry into claims Parvathi was allotted 14 plots of land in an upmarket Mysuru area as compensation for land elsewhere - holding a far lower value - taken for infrastructure projects.

The Chief Minister has denied all charges and refused calls to resign.

He has been backed by the Congress and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, who is also the state unit boss, and also by members of his cabinet, including IT Minister Priyank Kharge. However, some within the Congress also want him to quit, such as former Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad.

"I will fight. I am not afraid of anything. We are ready to face the investigation. I will fight this legally," he said last week after the High Court had quashed his challenge to the Governor's sanction.

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