Udupi/Mangaluru: The DYFI Karnataka State Committee alleged that a Muslim woman, who arrived with a Hindu family to stay at the Udupi Sri Krishna Mutt lodge, was denied accommodation citing her religion. However, the Sri Krishna Mutt denied the allegation, stating that the said lodge does not belong to the mutt.Democratic Youth Federation of India Karnataka state president Lavitra Vastrad and secretary Santhosh Bajal stated in a release that on Oct 3, the woman, who traveled to Udupi on a tour with the family of a Hindu friend from Raichur, reportedly offered prayers at the temple and went to the lodge for a night stay. It is alleged that during the verification of Aadhaar cards of those seeking accommodation, she was informed that lodging could not be provided because she belonged to the Muslim faith, the DYFI leaders stated.“Allegations have also surfaced that despite the friend’s family explaining that it was late at night and unsafe for the woman to go alone in a new town, accommodation was still refused. DYFI has urged the district administration to take this matter seriously and take necessary action against the guilty. While religious beliefs are part of an individual’s personal liberty, it is essential to ensure that discrimination solely on grounds of religion does not occur when providing accommodation or other public facilities,” the leaders noted.The Udupi Sri Krishna Mutt is one of Karnataka’s prominent religious and cultural centres. The religious heritage of Udupi features several instances of harmony among various communities. There are historical references indicating that the late Haji Abdullah Saheb was a devotee of the mutt. Examples of the late Pejawara Mutt seer Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji maintaining cordial relations with the Muslim community on various occasions are also publicly documented, the release stated.Santhosh Bajal said, “The DYFI Karnataka State Committee demands that the district administration and relevant authorities thoroughly investigate the incident and reveal the truth. Necessary legal action must be taken against this act of discrimination on religious grounds, and the govt must take precautions to prevent such incidents from recurring.”Mutt denies allegationParyaya Shiroor Mutt, which oversees the Sri Krishna Mutt’s administration, informed that the lodge is not under its control. Shiroor Mutt Diwan Udaya Kumar Saralathaya clarified that the said choultry is managed independently by a trust. “Just because it is next to the mutt, do all those choultries belong to the mutt? If the mutt does not control that choultry, how can it be held responsible for it? These allegations are an attempt to tarnish the mutt’s secular image,” he added.
