K’taka CM justifies move to raze portion of dargah for BRTS project, opposition leaders cry foul

PTI, Dec 22, 2022, 8:19 AM IST

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday defended the demolition of a portion of a dargah between Hubballi-Dharwad for a Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) corridor and said his own property worth crores of rupees has been acquired for the project.

Earlier today, authorities cleared a portion of Hazrat Sayed Mahmood Shah Qadri Dargah and a few shops adjoining it at Bhairidevarakoppa near Hubballi under heavy police protection.

”I come from that place…several homes, showrooms, shops and properties, including mine have been acquired for the BRTS corridor project. Nineteen guntas of my prime property have been acquired. The property is worth about Rs 5-6 crore, but I got compensation of Rs 5 lakh,” Bommai said.

Replying to the issue raised during Zero Hour, he said such issues with religious connection are there across the country and there are laws for such structures to be removed or to be shifted, if need be, for completion of public projects.

”We don’t want to hurt anyone’s religious feelings… We have done it for a road project after the court vacated the stay…discussions have been held with the dargah committee six times. Those there locally wanted to shift and we have given the opportunity for that. I know them, I will meet them on Friday personally and do all that is required by them after shifting,” he added.

Noting that the dargah is visited by people from all religions, especially Hindus, Congress MLA Abbayya Prasad from Hubli-Dharwad East constituency raised the issue in the House.

He said barricading was done around the structure last night and without allowing anyone, it is being demolished today in the name of BRTS project.

Noting that there are several religious institutions and maths along the BRTS project’s stretch, he said work should have been completed without hurting religious sentiments, but today an attempt is being made to disturb peace by the ruling dispensation, as elections are nearing.

”As CM also belongs to Hubballi-Dharwad and is aware of sentiments, he should resolve the issue without hurting anyone’s religious sentiments,” he added.

Questioning the need for demolition, Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah recalled that the issue of demolition had come up when he was the Chief Minister too, and that he had suggested that the nearby land can be acquired for the project, and not to touch religious places.

Pointing out that the road work has already been completed, he said just because the stay has been vacated by the court it does not mean that the structure has to be demolished immediately. ”You could have spoken to them (dargah committee or priests).” There are also several Hindu temples and maths there, while the dargah is being removed, the former Chief Minister said.

”As religious and emotional feelings are attached with the dargah, such demolition will lead to tension and disturbance of peace. I had informed the CM and district authorities about it…stop the demolition work and talk to those associated with dargah,” he further said.

Rejecting that it was an old dargah, BJP MLA Arvind Bellad said 13 temples, one church and this dargah were marked during the previous Congress government’s term for the BRTS project, and while temples and church were removed, the dargah was untouched despite its committee members willing for relocating.

Accusing the Congress of pushing the dargah committee members to go to court unnecessarily, he said the stretch of the BRTS corridor where the dargah is located had become extremely unsafe with space crunch, and that was the reason that the court has vacated the stay on it.

”What had happened to 13 temples has happened to the dargah too today. There is nothing to get emotional about it. Congress is doing vote-bank politics on the issue,” he added.