Bengaluru: The BJP South Bengaluru district unit will embark on a pilgrimage to Dharmasthala on Monday under the theme “Dharmada Ulivige Dharma Yuddha” (a holy war to protect dharma). The march will be led by district president and Jayanagar MLA C K Ramamurthy.

Pilgrimage begins with prayers in Jayanagar

According to BJP South district media in-charge T S Subrahmanya, the journey will begin with prayers at Sri Vinayaka Temple, Jayanagar 4th Block (near Maiyas Hotel) at 6 am.

At around 7.30 am, near the NICE Road junction close to PES University Ring Road, Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya and Basavanagudi MLA Ravi Subramanya will flag off the convoy.

Nearly 400 vehicles carrying leaders and workers from constituencies including Jayanagar, BTM Layout, Vijayanagar and Govindarajnagar will proceed to Dharmasthala.

Visit to Lord Manjunath Swamy temple

After reaching Dharmasthala, participants will undertake a 1 km walk to the Lord Manjunath Swamy temple to offer prayers. They are also scheduled to meet the temple’s Dharmadhikari, Veerendra Heggade, and convey the BJP’s “complete support to the holy shrine,” the statement said. Senior party leaders are expected to join the pilgrimage.

Background of the controversy

The pilgrimage comes amid controversy surrounding allegations that bodies, including those of women with signs of sexual assault, were buried in Dharmasthala over time. The claims had cast aspersions on the administrators of the local temple, triggering protests by BJP leaders who accused rivals of targeting the shrine.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar had warned of strict action if the complaint turned out to be false. Meanwhile, Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade welcomed the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations.

On Saturday, the SIT arrested the complainant in connection with the case, official sources confirmed.

BJP reiterates support to shrine

Through the Dharmasthala yatra, BJP leaders aim to reaffirm their solidarity with the revered temple and its custodian. Party leaders said the march is both a spiritual pilgrimage and a symbolic gesture of faith in the temple’s sanctity, especially at a time when it has been at the centre of a controversy.