Bengaluru: Even as the Dharmasthala ‘mass burial’ case continues to fuel a war of words between the ruling Congress and Opposition BJP-JD(S) combine, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi alleged that the controversy is an attack on the religious sentiments of crores of Hindus.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Joshi accused the Congress Government in Karnataka of targeting the Hindu faith, saying devotees share a deep and special attachment with Dharmasthala.

He alleged that “anti-Dharmasthala forces” were using toolkits to defame the revered shrine, while the State Government had “blindly” ordered a probe based on the claims of the so-called ‘masked man.’

“The Government has tried to destroy the sanctity of Dharmasthala, which has been preserved for decades. The probe and subsequent developments appear to be nothing more than a facade displayed on TV for over a fortnight,” Joshi said.

He charged that the Government lacked clarity and had only staged a drama by arresting the complainant and taking action against a couple of others.  “Congress has made a big mistake by attempting to tarnish the name of Dharmasthala. People of Karnataka are seeking answers from the Government for its follies,” he said.