CHIKKAMAGALURU: MLA and BJP leader C T Ravi told reporters that government records clearly state that Datta Peetha and Baba Budan Dargah are separate and the government should settle the Datta Peetha issue based upon these documents.
Even though the Supreme Court has directed the state government to settle the issue amicably, the latter has been dithering on the issue. Even after four months of appointing the Justice Nagmohan Committee, no action has been taken so far. “If we come to power, we will settle the dispute within three months though we are aware that people of the Muslim community will move court,” he added.
Western range DIG Hemanth Nimabalkar told reporters that before the ugly incident took place, everything was going peacefully and declined to comment on the security arrangements, saying it is the responsibility of the SP.
Deputy Commissioner M K Srirangaiah said 11,500 devotees had visited the Peetha by noon. The Muzrai Department distributed prasad to 30,000 people.
Surge in number of devotees
Chikkamagaluru: Since elections are around the corner, the Datta Peetha witnessed a surge in number of devotees which caused traffic jams. This year, 25,000 devotees visited the cave shrine as compared to the 10,000-15,000 visitors last year. Some BJP ticket aspirants had made arrangements for vehicles to ferry devotees. Pictures of aspirants Madalu Virupakshappa of Channagiri and Belli Prakash of Kadur had been posted on a few vehicles.
Peaceful morning
From 6 am on Sunday, vehicles started plying to Inam Dattatreya Peetha. Nearly 11,000 devotees had come by then. Dattamala-wearing devotees removed their malas near Honnammanahalla and proceeded towards the Peetha on foot carrying ‘Irumudi’ on their head. All devotees were allowed through the barricades to have darshan of the Datta Padukas. Gana Homa and Datta Homa were conducted in a shed outside the disputed site under the supervision of Raghu Avadoota. The Datta idol was installed in the makeshift shed.
All you need to know about the issue
BJP leaders and Hindutva groups have been demanding that the controversial cave shrine atop Bababudangiri, near Chikkamagaluru, be declared a Hindu place of worship. To the north of Chikkamagaluru town is the Baba-Budan Range, which has one of the highest mountain peaks between the Himalayas and the Nilgiris. The range, originally known as Chandra Drona Parvatha, takes its current name from the Dattapeeta Cave and 17th century Sufi saint Baba Budan.
The saint took up residence here for more than 150 years ago and brought coffee seeds for the first time to India from Yemen.
The controversy was born in 1975 when the State government decided to transfer the shrine from the Muzrai Department to the Wakf Board. Till then, this had been a pilgrim place frequented by both Hindus and Muslims.
While Hindus treat it as the abode of Sri Guru Dattatreya Bababudanswamy, Muslims consider it the place of Dada Hayat Mir Qualandar.
(With inputs from online desk)