“Gross Irresponsibility”: Union minister Pralhad Joshi tears into Siddaramaiah over failed Dharmasthala excavation claims

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi accused CM Siddaramaiah of shifting stance in the Dharmasthala case, alleging irresponsibility after SIT-led excavations, ordered by the government, yielded no evidence of the alleged buried bodies.

Bengaluru: Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday accused the Karnataka government of acting with “gross irresponsibility” in the Dharmasthala case, claiming Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was now “changing his stand” after the investigation yielded no evidence.

Joshi was reacting to Siddaramaiah’s recent statement in the Congress Legislature Party meeting that the government had no role in the Dharmasthala probe. “Wasn’t it you who ordered the formation of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the excavations?” he asked.

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He pointed out that 13 excavation sites were identified in Dharmasthala based on anonymous allegations that human remains were buried there. “Only soil was dug up, no substantial evidence or remains were found. Now, to avoid embarrassment, the CM is claiming his government had no role. This is unacceptable,” Joshi said.

Questioning the rationale behind the SIT formation, he said, “Would the SIT have been constituted without the CM’s role? Instead of creating unnecessary drama, the government could have conducted a straightforward police investigation. But they chose to dig and heap soil without results.”

Calling Dharmasthala a place of historical and spiritual importance visited by lakhs of devotees daily, Joshi accused the government of playing with public faith. “The state’s conduct is utterly condemnable,” he remarked.

The SIT was formed amid heated debate over anonymous allegations that bodies were buried in 13 locations near the Netravati river bathing ghat in Dharmasthala. Joshi said that with nothing found at the excavation sites, the CM’s claim of no government involvement in the probe was “tragic and disgraceful.”