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Text of the statement made in the Lok Sabha on December 3, 1998.
1. There is a religious shrine atop a hill, 30 kms from
Chikmagalur in Karnataka. This is under the control of the
Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Government of
Karnataka. Both the Hindus and the Muslims regard the shrine as
sacred and it is a unique example of Hindu-Muslim harmony.
2. The Muslims visit the shrine dedicated to the Saint Baba
Budhan throughout the year. They also celebrate Urs at the site
three days every year in the month of Rabi-Ul-Avval, the third
month of the Islamic Calendar. For the Hindus, this is the
shrine of Guru Dattatreya and the accordingly call it Dattatreya
Peetha. A large number of Hindus observe Dattatreya Jayanti
every year at the site during Kartik Poornima celebrations and
also during other festivals.
3. An attempt was made sonic time. back to have it declared as
Waqf property but the Supreme Court ruled in 1991 that the
shrine did not belong to the Waqf Board.
4. The Government of India and the State Government of Karnataka
are keen that nothing should be done to disturb the present
character of this religious shrine, which is a part of our rich
secular heritage in the country. This year, the Dattatreya
Jayanti was scheduled to be observed from December 1 to 3. To
maintain peace in the region, the State Government have made
elaborate arrangements. Prohibitory orders have been imposed by
the District Magistrate, Chikmagalur from 1st to 7th December,
1998 in the town within a radius of 5 kms and around the shrine
within a radius of 10 kms. All precautionary measures including
deployment of State Reserve Platoons and also the Central Police
Force have been taken.
5. The observance of Guru Dattatreya Jayanti has started
peacefully on December 1st and passed off smoothly on December
2nd. Today also, which is the last day of the festival no
untoward incident has been reported from Chikmagalur so fir and
it is expected to remain so throughout the day.
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