Actor Ashwini Gowda, Dalit groups slug it out over Ramanjaneya temple land

BENGALURU: A controversy seems to be brewing over land belonging to the Yediyur Ramanjaneya temple, which has been allegedly encroached upon by some locals turned into a hotspot for illegal activities. The temple land measures 8,926 sqft.

Now, television actor Ashwini Gowda has taken up the cause of protection the the temple and its land, located in Yediyur ward under Padmanabhanagar Assembly constituency. However, some Dalit groups have alleged her ‘personal interest’ in the land.

Ashwini Gowda claimed, “The temple, located on Survey No. 3, is Muzrai property. The rejuvenation works has not been done. Now some people have tresspassed the temple land and encroached upon it for running businesses and by storing their household items in the temple premises. We have met Minister Shashikala Jolle, but there has been no positive response from the government”.

She also claimed the temple premises has become hot spot for illegal activities. Ashwini demanded that the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department should take possession of the temple and the land belonging to it, clear the shops and street vendors in front of the temple.

Countering her, Pavithra, a member of Karnataka Janata Vedike told that, “Sand trading is going on in the temple land and some people even live here. Some leaders of Dalit organisations have expressed their opposition to the complaint lodged by Manu Gowda and Ashwini Gowda of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike seeking eviction, as they feel that it is being done for personal interest”.

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“Manu Gowda’s site is on the adjacent plot. They are trying to occupy the temple land in the name of its restoration”, Pavithra alleged. Further, she claimed, “Manugowda is demanding Rs 10 lakh from Mallamma and her family or else vacate from the temple land”.

Venkatesh of the temple management committee said, “The Muzrai Department clarified that this is government property and they have all the records. The committee has no connection to the dispute between the two groups. We will talk to Muzrai Department commissioner. A committee has been formed, but we are yet to get permission from the Deputy Commissioner. Once we get permission to formally announce the committee, we will decide whether we should ask the help of Manugowda and Ashwini Gowda.”