Accommodation denied to Muslim woman at Udupi Krishna Mutt lodge, claims CPI(M)

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) alleged on Monday that a lodge belonging to Udupi Krishna Mutt denied accommodation to a Muslim woman on October 3. However, the mutt refuted the charge, saying it does not manage any lodge.

CPI(M) Udupi district secretary Suresh Kallagar said in a statement that a Muslim woman from Ballari district joined her friend Shakuntala and the latter’s family members on a visit to the Udupi Krishna Mutt on Saturday. After having darshan of the presiding deity on October 3, they went to check in at a lodge near the mutt on the same night. The staff of the lodge checked the Aadhaar cards of all and, after finding one woman to be a Muslim, denied her accommodation.

Mr. Kallagar further stated that Udupi and Sri Krishna Mutt are known to follow secular principles. Pejawar Mutt seer Vishwesha Tirtha had hired a Muslim as the driver of his vehicle and also hosted Iftar parties. Philanthropist Haji Abdullah Sahed was a devotee of the mutt and generously contributed to Udupi Deepotsava. In such a context, the mutt now denying accommodation to a Muslim woman is unpardonable, he said.

When asked to name the lodge, Mr. Kallagar told The Hindu that the Muslim woman was denied accommodation at Birla Choultry near the mutt. The woman contacted party cadres in Udupi and the party later accommodated her in the house of a party worker in Udupi.

CPI(M) State secretary K. Prakash issued a separate statement condemning the incident.

When contacted, Udaykumar Saralathaya, the Diwan of Paryaya Shiroor Mutt, told The Hindu that the choultry named by the CPI(M) was not under the control of the Krishna Mutt. It is managed by a private trust. The mutt has nothing to do with the incident, he said, adding that an attempt had been made to tarnish the image of the mutt.