CET: Representatives of Brahmin Mahasabha lodge complaint after candidates forced to remove sacred threat

Shivamogga

The president of the Shivamogga district Brahmin Mahasabha and others filed a complaint with Doddapete police alleging that the officials at the Common Entrance Test (CET) examination centre cut the sacred thread of students in the guise of a physical examination of candidates appearing for the test.

Nataraj Bhagavath K.C., president of the Mahasabha, K.B. Prasanna Kumar, former MLA, M. Shankar of Hoysala Society, Raghuram, district representative of Akhila Karnataka Brahmin Mahasabha (AKBMS), and S. Dathathri, BJP leader, have signed the complaint addressed to the Doddapete police.

They alleged that the officers at Adichunchanagiri College, a centre for CET, in Sharavathi Nagar on April 16, removed the sacred thread of Brahmin students. They also threatened the students that they would not be allowed to take the test if they wore the thread.

The complainants have sought action against those officers directly and indirectly involved on charges of hurting the sentiments of the students. They urged the police to book the case under the relevant sections of the BNS.

Later, speaking to the media, Mr. Nataraj Bhagavath said that the Brahmins wear the sacred thread at the time of the initiation ceremony (Upanayana) and marriage. “We are not supposed to remove the threads until death. While in the neighbouring Tamil Nadu, workers of the DMK party cut the sacred threads, here in Karnataka, the State government employees are cutting the sacred threads. This is an assault on our community,” he said.

Further, he said that in the first phase, a complaint had been filed with the police. In the coming days, the association would extend the protest across the State and the country.