Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi addressing a press conference in Hubballi on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: KIRAN BAKALE
Stating that the State government did not apply its mind before ordering a probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) into claims by complainant-turned-accused in the Dharmasthala “burials” case, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi has demanded a court-monitored SIT probe into the conspiracy behind such a charge by the former sanitation worker.
Addressing a press conference in Hubballi on Thursday, Mr. Joshi said that the developments related to the SIT probe are indication of the intellectual bankruptcy of the State government.
“Any reasonable person would have first inquired into the antecedents of the complainant before ordering a SIT probe. As soon the complainant surfaced, the Dakshina Kannada Police sought permission to first inquire into the allegation and the antecedents of the complainant, which, however, was not allowed by the Congress government. Instead, without any application of mind, the Congress government ordered a SIT probe. We did not demand the SIT probe. Even a senseless person will not behave like this,” he mocked at the State government.
The Union Minister termed the whole development as a systematic conspiracy to defame a Hindu pilgrimage centre. “It has been carried out as part of a tool kit to defame Hindu pilgrimage centres. It happened against Isha Foundation, Shani Shingnapur and now, it is happening with Dharmasthala. Ultra Left leaders are behind the tool kit and the Congress government has supported it. Now, the SIT probe should unearth the conspiracy and expose the ultra Leftists in the government. Only a High Court-monitored probe will bring out the truth,” he said.
On the demand by some BJP leaders for handing over the case to the NIA to probe into the conspiracy, Mr. Joshi said that the NIA usually investigated cases of terrorism and those that pose a threat to the nation.
“But I feel, a court-monitored probe will bring out the truth behind the conspiracy against Dharmasthala,” he said.
At the beginning of the press conference, Mr. Joshi lambasted the Congress and other Opposition parties in Parliament for stalling proceedings over a non-issue. Although the Union government is ready for debate, the Opposition members want to run Parliament as per their whims and fancies, he said.
Losing elections after elections and sensing impending loss in the Bihar elections, the Congress has become desperate, he mocked at the party.
On Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Mr. Joshi said that after the Congress high command did not consider him for the Chief Minister’s post, Mr. Shivakumar has become a confused man.
On whether the confused man will shift sides, Mr. Joshi said that it has already been clarified by the BJP that there will be no attempt to topple the Congress government in the State. “A five-year mandate has been given to the Congress government. We want it to complete the tenure. And, in 2028, the BJP will come to power,” he said.
‘No objection’
On writer Banu Mustaq being invited to inaugurate the Dasara celebrations this year, Mr. Joshi said that the controversy over the issue has come about because of the writer’s previous statements on Goddess Bhuvaneshwari.
“However, I am not interested in taking forward the controversy. I don’t have any objection to Banu Mustaq being invited to inaugurate Dasara. Our culture is vast and embraces everyone. As long as she follows the traditions associated with Dasara celebrations, I don’t have any objection. But if the government wants to change the tradition because of one person, then I am not okay with it,” he said.
Published – August 28, 2025 07:03 pm IST
