BJP team at Dharmasthala temple, alleges K'taka CM behind 'smear campaign'

MANGALURU/BENGALURU: A BJP delegation visited Dharmasthala temple in Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada district Sunday and expressed solidarity with the temple authorities amid what it called a "smear campaign" against Shri Manjunatha Swamy temple following claims by an anonymous person that he was forced to bury thousands of bodies in the Dharmasthala area.

BJP's R Ashoka alleged that Siddaramaiah was instigating unrest against Dharmasthala and claimed that "urban naxals" and the "anti-Hindu Tipu gang" were behind the conspiracy.

The delegation, led by BJP state unit chief B Y Vijayendra, met Dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade and slammed the Congress govt for failing to nip the smear campaign in the bud.