The former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, on Wednesday demanded a judicial probe by a sitting High Court judge into the Sigaranahalli temple entry row.
Asking Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to order a time-bound judicial probe before the next session of Parliament, which commences on April 25, the Janata Dal (Secular) supremo cautioned that a sit-in dharna would be launched in front of Mr. Siddarmaiah’s residence if he does not comply.
He expressed confidence that the probe would prove that there was no substance in the allegation that his son and Holenarsipur MLA, H.D. Revanna, had a role in the row. The Dalit groups have accused the MLA of siding with the ‘upper castes’ to restrict the entry of Dalits into Basaveshwara temple in Sigaranahalli.
“How can I go to Delhi and attend the Parliament session when Dalits entry into the temple has become a big issue?” he said.
Blaming district in-charge Minister A. Manju of “inciting” violence, Mr. Gowda said he had visited Sigaranahalli and urged the villagers to live in harmony. But, the Minister had intervened and directed the police to arrest the ‘upper caste’ people, which had resulted in “vitiating the atmosphere”, he said.
He added that he had never witnessed a clash between Dalits and ‘upper castes’ in the village in all the 55 years of his political career.
