A division among vendors on communal lines, came to the fore with Karnataka Rajya Hindu Jaatra Vyaparasthara sangha urging government not to allow non-Hindus (Muslims) to set up shops during fairs or annual festivals of temples under the Endowment Department.
Sangha President Mahesh Das said as under section 31 (12) of Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act no property including land, building or site situated near the temple should be leased to non-Hindus. Mahesh also urged government to ensure that `elam’ (auctioning of stalls in temple premises) are not conducted in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. “Elams, seen only in DK and Udupi districts, are root-cause of all problems,” he declared.
“Management committee of temples, that are not under the endowment department, can take a decision on whether to allow Muslim vendors during temple festivals,” he said while responding to a query. Presently, the Sangha, launched inMay this year, has over 70,000 members. A meeting of the members will be held soon, Das informed.
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