Bengaluru, Aug. 26 -- Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday slammed the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state, accusing its leaders of politicising the Dharmasthala issue.

He appealed to Rajya Sabha MP Veerendra Heggade not to allow politics in the name of religion. Heggade is the Dharmadhikari (hereditary administrator) of the Dharmasthala temple and is a BJP-nominated member of the upper house of Parliament.

"BJP is doing Dharma war, doing politics in the name of religion. When we formed the SIT (Special Investigation Team) to probe the (Dharmasthala) matter, they all welcomed it. I appeal to Dharmadhikari of the Dharmasthala temple, Veerendra Heggade, please don't allow this politics to happen there....