Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, May 4: The Congress on Thursday May 4 alleged that 'black magic' had been performed against its Mangaluru South candidate and sitting MLA J R Lobo so that he loses the Karnataka elections.
Signs of 'black magic' were found at Nandigudda graveyard here on Thursday May 4, after which Congress claimed BJP’s role in it.
Local Congress members said that a week ago, the party had received information that 'black magic' had been performed at Nandigudda against J R Lobo. On searching the area, they did not find any trace of black magic.
However, on Thursday, a voodoo doll, lemons and other things normally associated with superstition were found at the graveyard, and the matter was brought to the notice of the local Congress by coolie workers.
On receiving information, renowned rationalist Narendra Nayak along with Congress leaders visited the spot.
Narendra Nayak told the media, "A couple of days ago I had received this information about this but I did not find any evidence. But today we have found materials related to black magic. I saw a sort of voodoo doll lying face down. It was in a small pit and surrounded by neem leaves and a few lemons. Youth Congress workers were crowding around the place looking for someone to come forward. On reaching the place and seeing these objects of alleged black magic I treated them with the usual contempt they deserve by stamping on them, to prove that nothing would happen. After performing my ‘rationalist ritual’ I invited others to do the same, but, I could see that none of the dozen or so of the people around had the courage to do so.
"As a police complaint has been lodged, I could not collect the voodoo doll or the lemons which were lying around there. I have told the attendants of the place to keep these objects, and once the police investigation is over I would collect them myself as I am sure they will not have the courage to touch them.
"Though I cannot say with confidence that these are connected with the elections, it is sure that there is an element of black magic there. In fact when I had gone to that place two days ago to investigate a tip-off that some sort of a black magic ritual had taken place there several days ago, we had done an inspection of the premises and could not find anything. However, we had seen some chinks in the security and had told the person in charge who had said that he too knew about it but could nothing about it," he said.
Congressman Prakash Salian said, "The opposition cannot digest the works of J R Lobo and resort to such things. MLA Lobo does not believe in black magic and has strived hard for the development of Nandigudda graveyard. His work is enough to make him win."