The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has alleged that a Muslim woman was denied overnight accommodation at a lodge near the Udupi Sri Krishna Mutt on October 3 after staff members checked her Aadhaar card and found that she was Muslim.
The allegation was denied by the Paryaya Shiroor Mutt, which currently manages the Sri Krishna Mutt. Its Diwan, Udaykumar Saralathaya, said the lodge named by the CPI(M) was not managed by the mutt.
CPI(M) Alleges Discrimination
According to CPI(M) Udupi district secretary Suresh Kallagar, the woman from Ballari district had travelled to Udupi with her friend Shakuntala and her family.
After visiting the Sri Krishna Mutt on October 3, the group went to a lodge near the mutt at around 8 pm to seek accommodation for the night, Kallagar said.
He alleged that the lodge staff checked the Aadhaar cards of those seeking accommodation and refused to provide a room to the Muslim woman after identifying her religion.
Kallagar said Shakuntala’s family members pleaded with the staff, telling them that the woman was like their granddaughter and asking where she could go alone in an unfamiliar city. According to the CPI(M), the request was rejected.
Kallagar later identified the lodge as Birla Choultry, near the mutt. He said the woman contacted CPI(M) workers in Udupi, who arranged accommodation for her at the house of a party worker.
CPI(M) Karnataka secretary K. Prakash also condemned the alleged denial of accommodation.
Mutt Says Lodge Is Privately Managed
Responding to the allegation, Udaykumar Saralathaya, Diwan of Paryaya Shiroor Mutt, said Birla Choultry was not under the control of the Sri Krishna Mutt.
He said the choultry was managed by a private trust and that the mutt had no connection with the incident.
Saralathaya alleged that an attempt had been made to tarnish the image of the Sri Krishna Mutt.
The CPI(M), meanwhile, referred to the history of interactions between the Udupi Krishna Mutt and members of the Muslim community.
Kallagar cited former Pejawar Mutt seer Vishwesha Tirtha’s relationship with his Muslim driver and his hosting of Iftar gatherings. He also mentioned Udupi philanthropist Haji Abdullah Saheb, described by the party as a devotee of the mutt who had contributed to the Udupi Deepotsava.
Kallagar said the alleged denial of accommodation was unacceptable in a place known for its history of communal interactions and urged the district administration to ensure that such incidents were not repeated.
