‘Muslim King had given land to Sri Krishna Matha in Udupi’: Mithun Rai stokes controversy

Team Udayavani, Mar 8, 2023, 6:12 PM IST

 Mangaluru:  Congress youth leader Mithun Rai, who is an aspirant for the Moodbidire assembly constituency ticket, made a controversial statement claiming that a “Muslim king had given land to Sri Krishna Matha” in Udupi. This statement has caused outrage among BJP leaders and pro-Hindu organizations.

Rai made the statement at the Nammura Masjid Noda Banni program in Puttige, Moodabidiri. Following the backlash from pro-Hindu groups, Rai defended his statement and said that the statement was made to highlight the existence of religious harmony.

Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat expressed his outrage over Rai’s statement, asserting that there was no truth to it. He said there are historical references that 850 years ago, Madhwacharya had built the Matha on land given by Ramabhoja to the Ananteshwar temple.

Bhat said there are references that the Jamia Masjid in Udupi was previously the site of Jangmara Matha, and the Krishnapura Math had given land to the Mother of Sorrows Church.

The MLA further emphasized that Udupi has long been known for religious harmony and cited that Haji Abdulla made significant religious donations to the Krishna Matha Raghupati Bhat said.

MLA Raghupathi Bhat also questioned Rai’s claim by asking who the “Muslim king” he referred to was. Bhat expressed his skepticism, indicating that there was no evidence to support Rai’s statement.

Pro-Hindu organizations, including Sri Ram Sena’s Pramod Muthalik, expressed their outrage on social media, fueling further controversy.