Fringe right-wing group Hindu Jagaran Vedike has put up posters at the Kukke Subramanya temple – ‘banning’ shops belonging to non-Hindus – in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district, reported news agency ANI. The temple is expected to see a large crowd of devotees gather for the’Champa Sashti’ festival that begins next week.
The poster reads, “As ‘Champa’ Sashti festival will be celebrated at Kukke Subramanya, the shops and stalls of other communities except Hindus are banned around the temple.”
Police and the state government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, have not yet reacted.
In March a similar poster came up near the Bappanadu Durgaparameshwari temple in Dakshina Kannada, asking authorities to not lease stalls to those from other communities.
These banners were also seen in Chikmagalur’s Gonibeedu village; on that instance it declared non-Hindu traders could not be allowed at the Subramanyeshwara temple fair.
Karnataka law minister JC Madhuswamy appeared to support the move. Speaking in the state Assembly, he said, “In Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act in 2002, Rule 12 said no property including land, building or site located near the institution shall be leased to non-Hindus. Following these rules, posters and banners have been put up.”
The opposition Congress accused the BJP of trying to divide the society.
Karnataka will hold an Assembly election next year.
