Bengaluru: Strongly condemning the ongoing unrest and clashes surrounding alleged excavation and investigation activities in Dharmasthala, Karkala BJP MLA V Sunil Kumar on August 7 lashed out at the Congress government, accusing it of remaining silent while “anti-Hindu propaganda” was being peddled under the guise of fact-finding missions. His scathing remarks came in the wake of multiple violent incidents that erupted between local devotees and a group of YouTubers on the banks of the Netravati River in Dakshina Kannada district.
Taking to social media platform ‘X’, the senior BJP leader stated, “We cannot tolerate the propaganda being carried out against Hindu religious centers under the pretext of investigation and excavation. The struggle and inquiry should not harm the sentiments and faith of the people.”
ನೇತ್ರಾವತಿ ತಟದಲ್ಲಿ ತನಿಖೆ, ಬುರುಡೆ ಶೋಧದ ನೆಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಂದು ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕ ಕೇಂದ್ರಗಳ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ನಡೆಯುವ ಅಪಪ್ರಚಾರವನ್ನು ಸಹಿಸುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ.ಹೋರಾಟ ಹಾಗೂ ತನಿಖೆ ಜನರ ನಂಬಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಘಾಸಿಗೊಳಿಸುವಂತಿರಬಾರದು.ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಈ ವಿಚಾರವನ್ನು ಗಮನದಲ್ಲಿಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡು ಜಾಗೃತೆಯ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ ಇಡಲಿ. ಜನರು ಬೀದಿಗೆ ಇಳಿಯುವ ಸಂದರ್ಭ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಯಾಗದಿರಲಿ.
— Sunil Kumar Karkala (@karkalasunil) August 7, 2025
Urging the Congress government to act with sensitivity, Kumar added, “The government should raise awareness and ensure that such activities don’t spiral into public outrage. There should be no need for people to take to the streets in protest.” In an earlier post on Wednesday, the MLA had gone a step further, calling into question the Congress government’s intent and alleging complicity with YouTubers and atheist groups. “Is this really an investigation or a staged riot? Is the government a puppet in the hands of anti-Hindu propagandists?” he questioned.
Tagging Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and Home Minister G Parameshwara in his social media posts, Kumar demanded to know why the police remained passive as “activists were harassing India’s leading news channel and common citizens.”
Violence erupts, police file multiple FIRs
The unrest in Dharmasthala and nearby Ujire has prompted a serious law-and-order concern. Police have registered a total of seven FIRs four at Dharmasthala Police Station and three at Belthangady Police Station in connection with Wednesday’s incidents, which saw a group of YouTubers being attacked, vehicles and cameras damaged, and even members of the media allegedly assaulted.
One of the key complaints came from Ajay Anchan, owner of the “Kudla Rampage” YouTube channel, who alleged that a group of around 50 unidentified individuals attacked him and his team while they were filming a video statement near Pangala Road. “They assaulted me, my cameraman Suhas, Santosh from Sanchari Studio, and Abhishek from United Media. Our equipment was damaged, and memory cards were snatched,” his complaint stated. The Dharmasthala Police registered a case under various IPC sections including 189(2), 191(2), 115(2), 324(5), 352, 307, and 190.
ನಾಡಿನ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ವಾಹಿನಿಯ ಮೇಲೆ, ಸ್ಥಳೀಯ ನಾಗರಿಕರ ಮೇಲೆ ಈ ಹೋರಾಟಗಾರರ ಸೋಗಿನ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗಳು ಹಲ್ಲೆ, ಗೂಂಡಾಗಿರಿ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದರೂ ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ಇಲಾಖೆ ಏನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದೆ ? ಸಹನೆಗೂ ಒಂದು ಮಿತಿ ಇದೆ. ಮೌನವನ್ನು ದೌರ್ಬಲ್ಯ ಎಂದು ಪರಿಗಣಿಸಬೇಡಿ. 2/2 @DKShivakumar @siddaramaiah @DrParameshwara
— Sunil Kumar Karkala (@karkalasunil) August 6, 2025
The situation escalated further when a group of nearly 100 people allegedly staged a protest in front of the Dharmasthala Police Station without prior permission. Another case was registered under IPC sections 189(2) and 190B for unlawful assembly and disturbing public order.
Media assaulted in Ujire, more FIRs filed
In Ujire, three more FIRs were registered following a separate clash near Benaka Hospital. Suvarna News reporter Harish R. (34) lodged a complaint alleging that he was assaulted and his life was threatened while covering the aftermath of the Dharmasthala incident. He specifically named Mahesh Shetty Timarodi and YouTuber Sameer among the accused. Police registered a case under IPC sections including 115(2), 351(2), and 352.
To add to the tension, Belthangady police registered a suo motu case against nearly 100 people who had gathered illegally near Benaka Hospital, where the injured from the Pangala Road incident were being treated. Despite police orders to disperse, the crowd reportedly refused to vacate, raising slogans and further aggravating the already volatile atmosphere.
MLA demands proactive policing, questions silence
Against this backdrop, Sunil Kumar’s remarks have struck a chord with various Hindu groups and social media users. By directly tagging top government functionaries and questioning police inaction, he appears to be drawing political mileage while amplifying the communal and emotional sensitivities involved in the Dharmasthala issue.
ಧರ್ಮಸ್ಥಳ ವಿಚಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಏನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದೆ ? ಇದೇನು ತನಿಖೆಯೋ ? ದೊಂಬಿಯೋ?
ಹಿಂದು ಶ್ರದ್ಧಾ ಕೇಂದ್ರದ ಮೇಲೆ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವ ಯೋಜಿತ ಅಪಪ್ರಚಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಯೂ ಟ್ಯೂಬರ್ ಗಳು ಹಾಗೂ ಅನ್ಯಮತೀಯರ ಕೈಗೊಂಬೆಯಾಗಿ ಕುಣಿಯುತ್ತಿದೆಯೇ ? 1/2— Sunil Kumar Karkala (@karkalasunil) August 6, 2025
“Don’t mistake our silence for weakness. There’s a limit to tolerance,” Kumar warned in his post, reflecting growing discontent within BJP ranks about how the Congress-led administration is allegedly allowing “anti-faith elements” to exploit sacred spaces like Dharmasthala.
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