Political compulsions drive lack of action in K’taka Lingayat Mutt sex scandal

Bengaluru 1st, September : The lack of action against Lingayat Seer Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru of the Murugha Mutt in Karnatakas Chitradurga even though cases have been reported in the POCSO and Prevention of Atrocities Acts by the police, has astonished many.

The current BJP government in Karnataka has not taken any legal action against the seer accused of being indicted, even after five days of filing of an FIR.Opposition Congress is also slack regarding the lack of action against the seer.The silence is deafening by Opposition leaders Siddaramaiah and B.K.Hariprasad who usually make a scathing attack on the current BJP governments shortcomings.Madara Channaiah, a seer who is a representative of the Dalit community, has offered his assistance to the seer who is accused of committing a crime.

He has also said that patience is essential in situations such as this.The Dalit, progressive, women and minority organisations have slammed political parties and are organizing state-wide protests against the lack of action by the state government and the silence of opposition parties.

Sources have explained that the power of the political establishment and the huge fan base of the Murugha Mutt is causing political parties to rethink their decision to take any action, despite the fear of public anger.With Assembly elections coming up next year, no political party is prepared to take any risk.

In the past, historically, the Murugha Mutt has been involved in social, cultural academic, and social activities for the last three centuries.The mutt was founded in 1703 A.D., according to the historical documents.The Mutt has helped the rulers of Chitradurga fort.

The influence and clout of the Murugha Mutt is indisputable according to political experts.The seer who is accused of being a liar Murugha Sharanaru took lead to organize smaller caste groups, notably people who were considered untouchable.

The seer accused of the crime to the dismay of others influential Lingayat seers and mutts helped marginalised groups to establish their own religious mutts.These mutts were castes that were disadvantaged and backward of the state were able to join together in groups.

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat recently met the Madara Channaiah seer and addressed the religious seers of backward classes, mainly mutts established by the seer who was accused of the alleged.Murugha Sharanaru had also backed the leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah when he decided to leave the JD(S) and attempted to start the "Ahinda" movement in Karnataka which led to his admission to join the Congress.

In the future, Siddaramaiah went on to become the Chief Minister.The accused seer was recently with the Congress when the party launched the Mekedatu Padayatra.

The former Congress President Rahul Gandhi visited his Mutt and expressed his joy and praised the work of the mutt, and praised the way in which the seer in question was helping the classes that were disadvantaged.Mutt sources say they believe that the sex scandal is the result of internal conflict over the control of the affairs of the wealthy and influential Mutt.

But, they also stated that only a few people could subdue the seer accused of being a sex predator since they have evidence against him.The government in power BJP government is taking a cautious approach on the issue.Sources in the BJP said that any move against the seer would be costly for the party ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections.

The party is awaiting court rulings in this area, which means that theres no reason to be blamed by anyone for the BJP.Karnataka police appear to be losing their credibility by not taking any actions against the accused seer.The police have not interrogated the seer who is being investigated with a charge under the POCSO Act.Dalit and women groups have been on the streets calling for his arrest.The seer who is accused has been instructed not to leave the premises of the muft.

According to sources, the victims who belong to the Schedule Caste, and another belonging to the Backward Class have video recordings of the alleged sexual assault.Police sources claimed that the girls have recounted their horror stories of brutal sexual assaults perpetrated by the seer accused of assault.

The women have left the hostel citing personal reasons, and have travelled to Bengaluru to voice their opinion on sexual assaults.The victims had previously recounted their experience to an auto driver who directed them to an NGO called Odanadi located in Mysuru which is run by two activists Stanley and Parashu.

The activists had sought help from the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).The CWC then filed the FIR in behalf of the victims in Mysuru.The case was later transferred to Chitradurga.mka/khz/ar.