BJP raises Datta Peetha, Anjanadri to trap Cong

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka has made its intentions clear to heavily harp on the powerful Hindutva narrative in the run up to the 2023 Assembly election, going by the recent developments. The government on Friday approved the cabinet subcommittee report on religious practices at the controversial cave-shrine of Bababudangiri, also known as Datta Peetha, in Chikkamagaluru district.

Two weeks ago, it announced that Anjanaadri Hills, believed to be the birthplace of Hindu deity Lord Hanuman, will be developed at a cost of Rs 100cr. By adopting a strong Hindutva narrative, the BJP aims to trap Karnataka Congress that is opting for a soft Hindutva approach.

BJP knows pretty well that Congress is not in a position to object to the Datta Peetha and Anjanadri gameplans.

Cabinet panel report

For decades, the syncretic shrine of Bababudangiri, also known as Datta Peethaha, has been a pilgrimage spot for both Hindus and Muslims.

While Hindus consider the hill to be the final resting place of Guru Dattatreya, who is considered to be the incarnation of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara, the Muslims believe the Dargah is one of the earliest centres of Sufism in South India because 16th century Sufi Saint Dada Hayat Mirkalandar lived here for years.

In the run-up to the 2018 Assembly polls, the BJP had demanded that the site should be declared a Hindu temple. The party leaders had even compared the fight for Datta Peeta to the Ram temple issue in Ayodhya.

The party has been organising Datta Mala and Datta Jayanti programmes since 2001 at the site. Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, J C Madhuswamy, who headed the cabinet sub-committee, refused to reveal the details of the report on Datta Peetha.

But he stated that the report will be submitted to the Karnataka High Court.“The High Court had asked the government to come out with a report (in September 2021). Now the report has been finalised and the Cabinet has accepted its recommendations." BJP leader C T Ravi welcomed the government action. This indicates BJP's plans of making Datta Peetha another major issue in the coming polls.

Anjanaadri Hills

The government announced a Rs 100-crore project for the development of Anjanadri Hill. Minister for Tourism, Anand Singh, declared that the blueprint for the same is ready and Anjanadri will be developed 'at any cost'. The statement too has strong politcal motives as the controversy over the actual birthplace of Lord Hanuman has been going on for the past few years.

The Tirupathi Tirumala Devasthanams (TTD) in Andhra Pradesh claims that Anjanaadri Hills at Tirumala is the Lord’s birthplace, while Maharashtra claims the actual birthplace of Lord Hanuman is Anjaneri in Nashik.

The government’s plans to elevate the Anjanadri Hills as a major pilgrimage centre and a part of the larger Ayodhya- Anjanadri tourism corridor. Ramasetu in Kanyakumari will also be included as a part of the corridor, said Anand Singh.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is likely to visit Anjanadri during his next visit to Karnataka. Congress has no other alternative but to continue the party’s policy of 'temple run' to appease the majority community.