Author: PTI
Publication: The New Indian Express
Usha, a woman from Srirangam, wanted by police for interrogation in connection with the Sankararaman murder case, in which Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswathi was arrested, on Tuesday "presented herself" before the police here.
Sudha Ramalingam and Arivu Nidhi, the two advocates representing her, told newsmen that Usha was not "hiding or absconding" as was made out by the prosecution on Monday and "she is very much available here for any inquiry."
The advocates said Usha was a cancer patient and she was a beneficiary of Kanchi mutt's "generous help."
"She (Usha) is not absconding or hiding and she had presented herself before the police here for any inquiry," the advocates told newsmen in Usha's presence.
During the hearing of the bail plea of the seer, the prosecution had told the Madras High Court on Monday that the pontiff had extensive telephonic conversations with Usha at Srirangam.
"We wanted to interrogate her but she had made herself scarce and is absconding," Tulsi, senior Supreme Court lawyer, appearing for the Tamil Nadu government, had said.
In the counter-affidavit, police had contended that the conversation between the seer and Usha used to last even for 900 pulse units. The woman was provided with free quarters and large amount of money was periodically transferred to her through bank transactions.
"Her involvement in the conspiracy and other allied matters were being probed since the seer regularly spoke to her before and after the murder," police had contended.
Usha drove from Chennai to the district police office here and appeared before the additional superintendent of police, Bhuvaneshwari.
Sudha Ramalingam said since Usha heard the TV news last night saying that she was absconding, she chose to present herself before the police on Tuesday.
Sudha said this was not a "surrender. She is only presenting herself. Usha is blameless and there is no case on her now."
Sudha said "Usha has been suffering from many ailments from the time she was 20 years old and she was now suffering from breast cancer."
She had to undergo many sittings of chemotherapy and had to be hospitalised several times. It was her husband, Narayanan, who had approached the Kanchi acharya for medical help. Narayanan "went broke" in business and following heavy debts, he deserted Usha. The medical expenses were met because of the help from the mutt and from Usha's relatives, Sudha said adding that the police had visited her house in Srirangam, near Tiruchirappalli, and made enquiries there on october 12.
The police did not find it necessary to make any further investigations, but the house owners became uneasy about it and Usha had to vacate the house. She has been staying with her relatives in Chennai all these days, Sudha said.
Usha's brother, Jagannathan, who was also present during the press conference, said at one stage, Usha went to the extent of committing suicide because of her ill-health and lack of means to meet the expenses.
"It was then that she received help as well as solace from the Kanchi acharya," Jagannathan said adding that Usha did not reside in Kanchi mutt but contacted the mutt only through phone.
"It is extremely uncivilised to adduce any pervert or sexual overtones to this," Sudha said.
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Sunday, November 28, 2004
‘Kanchi Acharya first pontiff to mingle with Dalits’
The Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, is the first pontiff in the Sankara Mutt lineage to mingle with the Dalits and other downtrodden sections. Hence, his arrest is regrettable, Vai. Balasundaram, State president of the Ambedkar Makkal Iyakkam, said here today.
He told presspersons that he did not want to go into the details of the arrest as it was sub-judice.
From his association with the Acharya for the past several years, he had learnt about the humane side of Jayendra Saraswathi, who had contributed a great deal to the uplift of the downtrodden.
Without any inhibitions the Acharya had stayed in a hut of a Dalit, Chelladurai, at Ramancheri, near Thiruttani, recently and offered his blessings.
The Acharya had also established the Ambedkar Maha Sabha for the welfare of the Dalits. He was a firm believer in the adage that "all religions were acceptable" and hence, he had cordial relations with the religious leaders of all communities.
Solution to Ayodhya
Our Special Correspondent from Chennai reports:
Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, if granted bail, would strive for an out-of-court settlement to the Ayodhya issue with the consent of the two communities, the Tamil Nadu Muslim Personal Law Board's chairman, Mohd. Amaan Khan, said here today.
In a statement, he said it was the Sankaracharya, who, for the first time, initiated a great effort to find a solution in 2002. "The Indian Muslims can neither deny his efforts nor forget them."
Muslims did not have any difference of opinion over Sankaracharya's efforts to find an amicable solution and promote cordiality between the two communities, Mr. Khan said.
He told presspersons that he did not want to go into the details of the arrest as it was sub-judice.
From his association with the Acharya for the past several years, he had learnt about the humane side of Jayendra Saraswathi, who had contributed a great deal to the uplift of the downtrodden.
Without any inhibitions the Acharya had stayed in a hut of a Dalit, Chelladurai, at Ramancheri, near Thiruttani, recently and offered his blessings.
The Acharya had also established the Ambedkar Maha Sabha for the welfare of the Dalits. He was a firm believer in the adage that "all religions were acceptable" and hence, he had cordial relations with the religious leaders of all communities.
Solution to Ayodhya
Our Special Correspondent from Chennai reports:
Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, if granted bail, would strive for an out-of-court settlement to the Ayodhya issue with the consent of the two communities, the Tamil Nadu Muslim Personal Law Board's chairman, Mohd. Amaan Khan, said here today.
In a statement, he said it was the Sankaracharya, who, for the first time, initiated a great effort to find a solution in 2002. "The Indian Muslims can neither deny his efforts nor forget them."
Muslims did not have any difference of opinion over Sankaracharya's efforts to find an amicable solution and promote cordiality between the two communities, Mr. Khan said.
Malicious and baseless reports: Kanchi Mutt
Publication: The Hindu
The Manager of the Kanchi Sankara Mutt, Sundaresa Iyer, today said that the Mutt would be constrained to initiate legal action against some Tamil magazines and a private television channel if they continued to publish/telecast "malicious and baseless" reports causing irreparable damage to the Mutt as well as to the Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi.
Talking to reporters here, he said the telecast and reports purported to be the details of the interrogation of the Acharya in police custody.
Such "irresponsible news items" not only caused irreparable damage to the reputation of the Acharya and the Mutt but also hurt the sentiments of the followers.
`Malicious propaganda'
Mr. Iyer termed their coverage as nothing but "malicious propaganda" as the police themselves had given an assurance in the court that they would not leak or share any points or news on the investigation in the Sankararaman murder case to a third party. "Such being the case, it only shows that all these news items are nothing but a figment of imagination," he said. Also, interrogation in police custody meant that everything or anything that had transpired between the investigating officer and the Kanchi Acharya remained a secret.
"If at all something had transpired in police custody, it should have come to light on that very day itself since our counsel was allowed to meet the Acharya during the police custody period," he said.
`Mutt cooperative'
Responding to a query on whether the police continued to question Mutt employees, he replied in the affirmative and said the Mutt had given cent per cent cooperation to the police.
Two special police teams — from Chennai and Cuddalore — have arrived here to assist the investigation team. They are said to have come here to assist in the investigation of the Radhakrishnan assault case.
The Manager of the Kanchi Sankara Mutt, Sundaresa Iyer, today said that the Mutt would be constrained to initiate legal action against some Tamil magazines and a private television channel if they continued to publish/telecast "malicious and baseless" reports causing irreparable damage to the Mutt as well as to the Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi.
Talking to reporters here, he said the telecast and reports purported to be the details of the interrogation of the Acharya in police custody.
Such "irresponsible news items" not only caused irreparable damage to the reputation of the Acharya and the Mutt but also hurt the sentiments of the followers.
`Malicious propaganda'
Mr. Iyer termed their coverage as nothing but "malicious propaganda" as the police themselves had given an assurance in the court that they would not leak or share any points or news on the investigation in the Sankararaman murder case to a third party. "Such being the case, it only shows that all these news items are nothing but a figment of imagination," he said. Also, interrogation in police custody meant that everything or anything that had transpired between the investigating officer and the Kanchi Acharya remained a secret.
"If at all something had transpired in police custody, it should have come to light on that very day itself since our counsel was allowed to meet the Acharya during the police custody period," he said.
`Mutt cooperative'
Responding to a query on whether the police continued to question Mutt employees, he replied in the affirmative and said the Mutt had given cent per cent cooperation to the police.
Two special police teams — from Chennai and Cuddalore — have arrived here to assist the investigation team. They are said to have come here to assist in the investigation of the Radhakrishnan assault case.
Resist and defeat this onslaught
Author: K.S. Sudarshan
Publication: Organiser
To slurry the image of the Hindu society, which is showing signs of awakening after a deep slumber of centuries, all the anti-Hindu forces, both indigenous and foreign, appear to be ganging together. A campaign of calumny is being unleashed against all Hindu revered icons. This iconoclasm starting with Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, the ideologue of Hindu rashtra, has now made His Holiness the Shankaracharya of revered Kanchi Kamkoti mutt its next target. He has been arrested most humiliatingly by involving his name in the murder of a former accountant of the mutt in September.
While investigating the above case, Acharya had been cooperating with it. Under such circumstances, all of a sudden to arrest him in Mehboobnagar, to transport him to Chennai in the middle of the night by a special plane of the government of Tamil Nadu, immediately take him by car to Kanchipuram and next morning producing him before a magistrate and get a judicial remand of 15 days, not allowing him to cook his own food and ridiculously insinuating that he was thinking of fleeing to Nepal, all point to a well-planned conspiracy of sullying the name of such a highly revered Shankaracharya. It is really a matter of great concern that in doing so, all the guidelines given by the Supreme Court to arrest any person have been flouted and human rights trampled with impunity.
It is but natural that the Hindu society is expressing its resentment in its traditional dignified ways. All the sants, mahants, acharyas, mahamandaleshwars and the different Hindu organisations have been expressing their opposition in the most democratic manner. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Swayamsevaks have always been with the society and are now also giving expression to the pent up anger of this society in cooperation with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other Hindu organisations. Our Sarkaryavah has sent instructions to that effect to all our provincial centres. More such smear campaigns may be carried out in future. The need of the hour is to consolidate all the Hindu forces and increase their power of resistance against injustice to the society. The Sangh expects the Swayamsevaks to work in that direction. Only an awakened and organised Hindu society will be able to defeat all such onslaughts.
Publication: Organiser
To slurry the image of the Hindu society, which is showing signs of awakening after a deep slumber of centuries, all the anti-Hindu forces, both indigenous and foreign, appear to be ganging together. A campaign of calumny is being unleashed against all Hindu revered icons. This iconoclasm starting with Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, the ideologue of Hindu rashtra, has now made His Holiness the Shankaracharya of revered Kanchi Kamkoti mutt its next target. He has been arrested most humiliatingly by involving his name in the murder of a former accountant of the mutt in September.
While investigating the above case, Acharya had been cooperating with it. Under such circumstances, all of a sudden to arrest him in Mehboobnagar, to transport him to Chennai in the middle of the night by a special plane of the government of Tamil Nadu, immediately take him by car to Kanchipuram and next morning producing him before a magistrate and get a judicial remand of 15 days, not allowing him to cook his own food and ridiculously insinuating that he was thinking of fleeing to Nepal, all point to a well-planned conspiracy of sullying the name of such a highly revered Shankaracharya. It is really a matter of great concern that in doing so, all the guidelines given by the Supreme Court to arrest any person have been flouted and human rights trampled with impunity.
It is but natural that the Hindu society is expressing its resentment in its traditional dignified ways. All the sants, mahants, acharyas, mahamandaleshwars and the different Hindu organisations have been expressing their opposition in the most democratic manner. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Swayamsevaks have always been with the society and are now also giving expression to the pent up anger of this society in cooperation with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other Hindu organisations. Our Sarkaryavah has sent instructions to that effect to all our provincial centres. More such smear campaigns may be carried out in future. The need of the hour is to consolidate all the Hindu forces and increase their power of resistance against injustice to the society. The Sangh expects the Swayamsevaks to work in that direction. Only an awakened and organised Hindu society will be able to defeat all such onslaughts.
Human rights for terrorists, ministership for criminals, jail for Shankaracharya
Author: S.R. Ramanujan
Publication: Organiser
When the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy allowed the Gujarat police to nab an alleged ISI agent, Maulana Naseeruddin from Hyderabad and within a few days helped the Tamil Nadu police to apprehend Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati from one of the Telengana districts, how can he or his police be faulted for any partisan approach? Obviously not. His hands were 'tied' as revealed by him as he had to uphold the rule of law.
But, it is not as fair as it appears. A closer look will bring out the subtle difference between the two incidents. Let us not forget the fact that in the case of Naseeruddin, the Gujarat police succeeded in their third attempt to take him into custody; that too, after having been forced to open fire in self-defence and in the process killing an activist. The Andhra police was reluctant to extend any support to the Gujarat police. Otherwise, the supporters (read agent provocateurs of ISI lodged in Hyderabad's old city) of Naseeruddin could not have snatched him away from the Gujarat police custody for some time. In the first attempt, Maulana's supporters laid a siege to the Police Commissioner's office and successfully prevented his deportation to Gujarat. This speaks volumes about the extent of ISI network in Hyderabad city which could organise a motivated crowd of thousands within minutes.
When some of the sants met Dr Reddy in connection with the arrest of Kanchi seer, he is reported to have said that everybody is equal before the law and law must take its own course. This is not just Reddy's stand alone and he was only adding to the chorus of other politicians and political parties. They are quite right. Rule of law must prevail in a democracy and only then democracy can be alive and kicking. But all these politicians owe an explanation to the people as to why some were considered more equal before law and why law did not take its course in many cases.
Let us take the case of actor Nandamuri Balakrishna, son of late thespian N.T. Rama Rao. He allegedly shot at his producer and his associate and critically injured them. Was the state police allowed to interrogate him in custody even for an hour? He was completely shielded by the powers that be and the medical profession, much against the medical ethics. All sorts of alibis were created to prevent the police from going anywhere near him. The Andhra Pradesh state administration collaborated with the medical fraternity to ensure that the police was denied access. Leading medical practitioners acted without any sense of shame. Only the rule of law was put in acute medical care ward while the actor was undergoing a 'massage' for his index finger which apparently had a sprain. The police was also prevented from interrogating the actor because the latter was under acute stress!
Sai Baba of Puttaparthi was definitely considered above law by the then rulers when three youth were brutally murdered in the bedroom of the Baba years ago. Did any police official dare interrogate the Baba in police custody? There was strong circumstantial evidence.
When the state government rolled a red-carpet welcome, in the name of peace talks, to the hardcore Naxal leaders on whose heads there were rewards of lakhs of rupees, what happened to the rule of law? If an ordinary criminal surfaces like the Naxal leaders, will the rule of law permit the government to extend five-star hospitality? Did not the government throw to the winds the constitutional guarantee of equality before law when it wanted to buy peace with the Naxals?
All this argument is not to suggest that Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati should not be taken into judicial or police custody if there is clinching evidence against him in connection with the murder of the ex-employee of the Kanchi mutt. This is only to expose the double standards of those who are in public life and some of the NGOs which are blatantly anti-Hindu. A Hyderabad-based Human Rights Forum criticised the protest against the arrest of Kanchi seer as meaningless and absurd. For them, human rights exist only for the Left extremists or terrorists. If a Naxalite kills an innocent branding him as an informant (and now the term is 'covert'), he has no human right.
When DMK leader, Muthuvel Karunanidhi, was arrested and sent to jail and was served prison food by Jayalalithaa, there was a hue and cry. When Shankara-charya was not allowed to cook his own food in the Vellore jail where he is lodged, citing the jail manual, 'equality before law' was invoked. What happened to the 'equality' when the now-expelled BJP-firebrand was lodged in a university guest-house because it suited the ruling junta for political reasons? Sharad Yadav of JD(U) also talks of equality. Any politician from Bihar cutting across party lines cannot talk of law, let alone equality before law. All the politicians of the state made Bihar a lawless state.
Will Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav, put his hand on his heart and say that there were no murder charges pending against his ministerial colleague Raju Bhayya, who was put behind bars under POTA by Mulayam's predecessor and who was subsequently inducted into his cabinet? Was there a whimper against this blatantly partisan action of cocking a snook at the Constitution and the so-called rule of law? Raju Bhayya or his father were not certainly treated equal before law. They are more equal before law.
We have another shining example for the 'equality' clause getting out of shape when it comes to the Shiv Sena supremo, Balasaheb Thackeray. Can those who are talking about the rule of law explain as to what happened to the Sri Krishna Commission report? For all his acts of omission and commission, has the law and order machinery touched at least the tail of the tiger, let alone caging it? Those who were implicated in the Tehelka scam were dropped and then taken back into the cabinet citing people's verdict. Now the new law as people's verdict can neutralise everything else, including the much-touted rule of law. Others have to be strictly equal before law. Politicians are the only exception before the rule of law.
Publication: Organiser
When the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy allowed the Gujarat police to nab an alleged ISI agent, Maulana Naseeruddin from Hyderabad and within a few days helped the Tamil Nadu police to apprehend Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati from one of the Telengana districts, how can he or his police be faulted for any partisan approach? Obviously not. His hands were 'tied' as revealed by him as he had to uphold the rule of law.
But, it is not as fair as it appears. A closer look will bring out the subtle difference between the two incidents. Let us not forget the fact that in the case of Naseeruddin, the Gujarat police succeeded in their third attempt to take him into custody; that too, after having been forced to open fire in self-defence and in the process killing an activist. The Andhra police was reluctant to extend any support to the Gujarat police. Otherwise, the supporters (read agent provocateurs of ISI lodged in Hyderabad's old city) of Naseeruddin could not have snatched him away from the Gujarat police custody for some time. In the first attempt, Maulana's supporters laid a siege to the Police Commissioner's office and successfully prevented his deportation to Gujarat. This speaks volumes about the extent of ISI network in Hyderabad city which could organise a motivated crowd of thousands within minutes.
When some of the sants met Dr Reddy in connection with the arrest of Kanchi seer, he is reported to have said that everybody is equal before the law and law must take its own course. This is not just Reddy's stand alone and he was only adding to the chorus of other politicians and political parties. They are quite right. Rule of law must prevail in a democracy and only then democracy can be alive and kicking. But all these politicians owe an explanation to the people as to why some were considered more equal before law and why law did not take its course in many cases.
Let us take the case of actor Nandamuri Balakrishna, son of late thespian N.T. Rama Rao. He allegedly shot at his producer and his associate and critically injured them. Was the state police allowed to interrogate him in custody even for an hour? He was completely shielded by the powers that be and the medical profession, much against the medical ethics. All sorts of alibis were created to prevent the police from going anywhere near him. The Andhra Pradesh state administration collaborated with the medical fraternity to ensure that the police was denied access. Leading medical practitioners acted without any sense of shame. Only the rule of law was put in acute medical care ward while the actor was undergoing a 'massage' for his index finger which apparently had a sprain. The police was also prevented from interrogating the actor because the latter was under acute stress!
Sai Baba of Puttaparthi was definitely considered above law by the then rulers when three youth were brutally murdered in the bedroom of the Baba years ago. Did any police official dare interrogate the Baba in police custody? There was strong circumstantial evidence.
When the state government rolled a red-carpet welcome, in the name of peace talks, to the hardcore Naxal leaders on whose heads there were rewards of lakhs of rupees, what happened to the rule of law? If an ordinary criminal surfaces like the Naxal leaders, will the rule of law permit the government to extend five-star hospitality? Did not the government throw to the winds the constitutional guarantee of equality before law when it wanted to buy peace with the Naxals?
All this argument is not to suggest that Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati should not be taken into judicial or police custody if there is clinching evidence against him in connection with the murder of the ex-employee of the Kanchi mutt. This is only to expose the double standards of those who are in public life and some of the NGOs which are blatantly anti-Hindu. A Hyderabad-based Human Rights Forum criticised the protest against the arrest of Kanchi seer as meaningless and absurd. For them, human rights exist only for the Left extremists or terrorists. If a Naxalite kills an innocent branding him as an informant (and now the term is 'covert'), he has no human right.
When DMK leader, Muthuvel Karunanidhi, was arrested and sent to jail and was served prison food by Jayalalithaa, there was a hue and cry. When Shankara-charya was not allowed to cook his own food in the Vellore jail where he is lodged, citing the jail manual, 'equality before law' was invoked. What happened to the 'equality' when the now-expelled BJP-firebrand was lodged in a university guest-house because it suited the ruling junta for political reasons? Sharad Yadav of JD(U) also talks of equality. Any politician from Bihar cutting across party lines cannot talk of law, let alone equality before law. All the politicians of the state made Bihar a lawless state.
Will Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav, put his hand on his heart and say that there were no murder charges pending against his ministerial colleague Raju Bhayya, who was put behind bars under POTA by Mulayam's predecessor and who was subsequently inducted into his cabinet? Was there a whimper against this blatantly partisan action of cocking a snook at the Constitution and the so-called rule of law? Raju Bhayya or his father were not certainly treated equal before law. They are more equal before law.
We have another shining example for the 'equality' clause getting out of shape when it comes to the Shiv Sena supremo, Balasaheb Thackeray. Can those who are talking about the rule of law explain as to what happened to the Sri Krishna Commission report? For all his acts of omission and commission, has the law and order machinery touched at least the tail of the tiger, let alone caging it? Those who were implicated in the Tehelka scam were dropped and then taken back into the cabinet citing people's verdict. Now the new law as people's verdict can neutralise everything else, including the much-touted rule of law. Others have to be strictly equal before law. Politicians are the only exception before the rule of law.
Saturday, November 27, 2004
Unholy conspiracy
Author: Dina Nath Mishra
Publication: The Pioneer
JagatGuru Shankaracharya of the Kanchipuram Peetham was arrested on Diwali day by the Jayalalithaa Government of Tamil Nadu, which claims to have solid and shocking proof against him. But practically nothing of this sort is contained in the State's report to the Centre. The Shankaracharya is no an ordinary seer. He is 69th peethadhipati of this revered peeth, which was established in 6th Century BC by Adi Shankaracharya.
Consider the facts: a 52-year-old man Sankararaman was murdered on September 3 at the Kanchi Vardhraj Perumal temple of Vishnu, about 5 km away from the Kanchikamkoti Math. Due to wrong reporting, the impression has been created as if he was killed on the Kanchikamkoti campus. Contrary to the impression created by the media, Sankararaman was never employed by the Kanchikamkoti Math. His father Anant Krishna Sharma of course was a close associate of the Parmacharya - the 68th Shankaracharya of the Kanchipuram Peeth. Sankararaman started his career as a ticket collector at the Vardhraj Perumal Temple. Eventually, he became manager of the temple and took some tough measures. After his murder, the police suspected some DMK persons, who had a land dispute with the temple. They also suspected some people who were supposed to have stolen gold from the temple.
The late Sankararaman had filed a petition in 2001 in the Madras High Court seeking to restrain Jayendra Saraswati from visiting China. On July 6, 2004 he is also said to have written against Jayendra Saraswati to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment department.
It is his letter dated August 30, 2004, that the Nakeeran magazine has published that has become the bone of contention. Nakeeran and its editor were closely associated with sandalwood smuggler Veerapan and also to the DMK. It is also no secret that in the last Lok Sabha elections, Veerapan and his gang supported DMK in some constituencies. After the letter was published, DMK leader Karunanidhi threatened a major agitation for action action against Jayendra Saraswati on the Nakeeran allegations, setting of fears of a serious law and order situation, given the volatile Tamil politics.
But such an incident can only happen with a Hindu seer. Can anybody in India imagine the Cardinal being arrested on the X-mas eve or a Muslim cleric being arrested on Eid day. We all know that Imam Bukhari of Jama Masjid could not be touched despite half-a-dozen non-bailable warrants of a serious nature.
It is also known that police can frame anybody on the flimsiest of grounds. The public prosecutor has said Jayendra Saraswati was planning to flee to Nepal to avoid detention. Can anybody imagine someone under 'Z' security, and that too a seer of a high order, fleeing. Now, the story has been spread that Sri Saraswati had drawn lakhs of rupees from the ICICI bank to pay off hired killers, when the fact is that the Kanchipitham does not have an account with the said bank. A rumour was planted about his conversation on cell phone with the so-called killers. Probably the midnight arrest drama was enacted to confiscate the cell phone. But the cellphone talk does not hold ground as yet. Five self-proclaimed killers surrendered to the police, but one of them was in jail on the day of killing. One of them, took the name of Jayendra Saraswati. One can understand the credibility of the conspiracy.
In a country where even terrorists enjoy human rights, a Hindu seer is subjected to extreme inhuman treatment. Sri Saraswati is the first Shankaracharya more than 200 years to be ordained in the Kanchipuram Peeth. After taking over, he embarked upon social service through educational and medical institutions.
Perhaps, it was not liked by either Karunanidhi or Jayalalithaa. The conspiracy is to usurp the mighty peetham by hook or crook. who would care for Hindus, if they do not care for the greatest of their seers? I have seen many editorials talking about the supremacy of the law. Nobody can dispute it, but politicians and police can misuse the law even to frame someone like Sri Saraswati. The manner in which he has been treated has been condemned by even Muslim and Christian clerics. If the conspiracy is not defeated, the loser will not be Jayendra Saraswati or the Kanchipeetham but the entire Hindu society and India as well.
Publication: The Pioneer
JagatGuru Shankaracharya of the Kanchipuram Peetham was arrested on Diwali day by the Jayalalithaa Government of Tamil Nadu, which claims to have solid and shocking proof against him. But practically nothing of this sort is contained in the State's report to the Centre. The Shankaracharya is no an ordinary seer. He is 69th peethadhipati of this revered peeth, which was established in 6th Century BC by Adi Shankaracharya.
Consider the facts: a 52-year-old man Sankararaman was murdered on September 3 at the Kanchi Vardhraj Perumal temple of Vishnu, about 5 km away from the Kanchikamkoti Math. Due to wrong reporting, the impression has been created as if he was killed on the Kanchikamkoti campus. Contrary to the impression created by the media, Sankararaman was never employed by the Kanchikamkoti Math. His father Anant Krishna Sharma of course was a close associate of the Parmacharya - the 68th Shankaracharya of the Kanchipuram Peeth. Sankararaman started his career as a ticket collector at the Vardhraj Perumal Temple. Eventually, he became manager of the temple and took some tough measures. After his murder, the police suspected some DMK persons, who had a land dispute with the temple. They also suspected some people who were supposed to have stolen gold from the temple.
The late Sankararaman had filed a petition in 2001 in the Madras High Court seeking to restrain Jayendra Saraswati from visiting China. On July 6, 2004 he is also said to have written against Jayendra Saraswati to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment department.
It is his letter dated August 30, 2004, that the Nakeeran magazine has published that has become the bone of contention. Nakeeran and its editor were closely associated with sandalwood smuggler Veerapan and also to the DMK. It is also no secret that in the last Lok Sabha elections, Veerapan and his gang supported DMK in some constituencies. After the letter was published, DMK leader Karunanidhi threatened a major agitation for action action against Jayendra Saraswati on the Nakeeran allegations, setting of fears of a serious law and order situation, given the volatile Tamil politics.
But such an incident can only happen with a Hindu seer. Can anybody in India imagine the Cardinal being arrested on the X-mas eve or a Muslim cleric being arrested on Eid day. We all know that Imam Bukhari of Jama Masjid could not be touched despite half-a-dozen non-bailable warrants of a serious nature.
It is also known that police can frame anybody on the flimsiest of grounds. The public prosecutor has said Jayendra Saraswati was planning to flee to Nepal to avoid detention. Can anybody imagine someone under 'Z' security, and that too a seer of a high order, fleeing. Now, the story has been spread that Sri Saraswati had drawn lakhs of rupees from the ICICI bank to pay off hired killers, when the fact is that the Kanchipitham does not have an account with the said bank. A rumour was planted about his conversation on cell phone with the so-called killers. Probably the midnight arrest drama was enacted to confiscate the cell phone. But the cellphone talk does not hold ground as yet. Five self-proclaimed killers surrendered to the police, but one of them was in jail on the day of killing. One of them, took the name of Jayendra Saraswati. One can understand the credibility of the conspiracy.
In a country where even terrorists enjoy human rights, a Hindu seer is subjected to extreme inhuman treatment. Sri Saraswati is the first Shankaracharya more than 200 years to be ordained in the Kanchipuram Peeth. After taking over, he embarked upon social service through educational and medical institutions.
Perhaps, it was not liked by either Karunanidhi or Jayalalithaa. The conspiracy is to usurp the mighty peetham by hook or crook. who would care for Hindus, if they do not care for the greatest of their seers? I have seen many editorials talking about the supremacy of the law. Nobody can dispute it, but politicians and police can misuse the law even to frame someone like Sri Saraswati. The manner in which he has been treated has been condemned by even Muslim and Christian clerics. If the conspiracy is not defeated, the loser will not be Jayendra Saraswati or the Kanchipeetham but the entire Hindu society and India as well.
Was Shankaracharya politically targeted?
Author: Girdhari Lal Bhan
Publication: Asian Voice, UK
His Holiness Jayendra Saraswati's arrest and imprisonment as a common criminal will have far-reaching repercussions; in due course it will become a watershed in the history of India.
A religious head of another faith, the Pope or a high priest in Islam, e.g., would not be treated similarly because of the vicious backlash such an action would evoke. It stands to reason that those who decided to arrest His Holiness took that action assured that the Hindu community would not react similarly to express its outrage.
I was in India in the days following this event. Talking to a vast number of ordinary Hindus from diverse backgrounds I became aware of their seething anger. Reading the various newspapers, the news reports as well as the editorials, it became clear that this anger was not being recognised and reported. The scant reference to this issue in the news broadcasts and in discussions, rather the lack of discussions, told its own story. What little was reported was followed by one unanimous refrain - 'nobody is above the law and the Shankaracharya should be punished for the crime he has committed'. Clearly a judgement had been passed by the State Government and by the media.
This was not enough. There were headline references to the 'crafty' seer. Underneath the headline was a description of how the matha had in recent years spent its funds in establishing educational institutions, hospitals etc. for the benefit of the people. But surely such activities by a Hindu religious leader! There must be something 'fishy' about this; the seer must be 'crafty'. [Similar activities by a non-Hindu would have produced accolades, demands for nomination for Nobel Prize, or application for sainthood.]
When the Union Home Minister was asked by reporters for the Central Government's views on the arrest, the Minister appeared fully relaxed. Sipping tea he calmly stated that the Union Government would contact the Tamil Nadu Government to ascertain the facts of the case before responding. To-date, the Union Government has not taken any action to come to the rescue of His Holiness - a person of the highest standing in the Hindu world. This lack of concern by the Government of the country clearly is based on the knowledge that the Hindu community will not express its anger through violent demonstrations.
The police have stated that there is a 'strong' case against the Shankaracharya. Is there any credible evidence? So far none has been furnished. All that has been mentioned is based on conjecture and innuendo. In any country with a reasonably effective judiciary, this imprisonment would not have been possible in the first instance. And, had there been an imprisonment, a swift release on bail would have followed. In law, a person is considered innocent until proven guilty.
Why did the State Government and its police act in the manner they did? Some observers are of the opinion that these actions were driven by political motives. That His Holiness has in recent years worked hard to provide educational, medical and other facilities for the local population, and done a lot of work to raise the status of the 'dalits' - he has attended their functions and offered pooja (worship) at their temples - may have upset certain quarters. Hopefully, in time we will know the reality behind this dreadful farce.
That a criminal case was registered against His Holiness on uncorroborated evidence, indeed allegations, that he was imprisoned without a trial, and the shabby way in which he has been treated in prison is an insult to devout Hindus all over the world.
Publication: Asian Voice, UK
His Holiness Jayendra Saraswati's arrest and imprisonment as a common criminal will have far-reaching repercussions; in due course it will become a watershed in the history of India.
A religious head of another faith, the Pope or a high priest in Islam, e.g., would not be treated similarly because of the vicious backlash such an action would evoke. It stands to reason that those who decided to arrest His Holiness took that action assured that the Hindu community would not react similarly to express its outrage.
I was in India in the days following this event. Talking to a vast number of ordinary Hindus from diverse backgrounds I became aware of their seething anger. Reading the various newspapers, the news reports as well as the editorials, it became clear that this anger was not being recognised and reported. The scant reference to this issue in the news broadcasts and in discussions, rather the lack of discussions, told its own story. What little was reported was followed by one unanimous refrain - 'nobody is above the law and the Shankaracharya should be punished for the crime he has committed'. Clearly a judgement had been passed by the State Government and by the media.
This was not enough. There were headline references to the 'crafty' seer. Underneath the headline was a description of how the matha had in recent years spent its funds in establishing educational institutions, hospitals etc. for the benefit of the people. But surely such activities by a Hindu religious leader! There must be something 'fishy' about this; the seer must be 'crafty'. [Similar activities by a non-Hindu would have produced accolades, demands for nomination for Nobel Prize, or application for sainthood.]
When the Union Home Minister was asked by reporters for the Central Government's views on the arrest, the Minister appeared fully relaxed. Sipping tea he calmly stated that the Union Government would contact the Tamil Nadu Government to ascertain the facts of the case before responding. To-date, the Union Government has not taken any action to come to the rescue of His Holiness - a person of the highest standing in the Hindu world. This lack of concern by the Government of the country clearly is based on the knowledge that the Hindu community will not express its anger through violent demonstrations.
The police have stated that there is a 'strong' case against the Shankaracharya. Is there any credible evidence? So far none has been furnished. All that has been mentioned is based on conjecture and innuendo. In any country with a reasonably effective judiciary, this imprisonment would not have been possible in the first instance. And, had there been an imprisonment, a swift release on bail would have followed. In law, a person is considered innocent until proven guilty.
Why did the State Government and its police act in the manner they did? Some observers are of the opinion that these actions were driven by political motives. That His Holiness has in recent years worked hard to provide educational, medical and other facilities for the local population, and done a lot of work to raise the status of the 'dalits' - he has attended their functions and offered pooja (worship) at their temples - may have upset certain quarters. Hopefully, in time we will know the reality behind this dreadful farce.
That a criminal case was registered against His Holiness on uncorroborated evidence, indeed allegations, that he was imprisoned without a trial, and the shabby way in which he has been treated in prison is an insult to devout Hindus all over the world.
Friday, November 26, 2004
Kanchi: Media Watch
Author: Dr. J. K. Bajaj
Publication: Centre for Policy Studies
The Delhi edition of the "Hindu" of today carries a five column story on the issue of the arrest of Sri Kamakoti Peethadhipati Jagadguru Sankaracharya Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal. The story is entitled, "Case against Acharya gets strengthened: police". The story is prominently displayed and forms the second lead on the first page. As the title indicates, the story is based on a briefing on the issue by the police. And it is not a public briefing by any named officer who may be held responsible for the averments made; it is a private briefing attributed to unnamed police sources.
The story makes the contra-intuitive point that the retraction of the confessions by two of the accused, which form the most significant part of the evidence on the basis of which the Acharya was arrested, actually strengthens the police case against the. The rest of the story carries varied insinuations against the Acharya and other people who, unlike the source in the police, have been named by the newspaper.
The second main news page of the paper, opposite the edit page, prominently carries the story of the rejection by the Supreme Court of a PIL requesting CBI probe into the issue.
The stories regarding protest and agitation against the arrest are relegated to small entries at the bottom of this page. And, the letter written by the Prime Minister of India to the Chief Minster of Tamil Nadu expressing concern about the health of the Acharya is placed on an inconsequential internal page, a quarter of which is devoted to news from the South and the remaining three-fourths to advertisements.
The editorial page carries an article by Rajeev Dhawan which claims to assess the evidence against the Acharya and concludes that "there is a strong prima facie case" against the Acharya and hence denial of bail to him is justified. There is nothing in the article to indicate that the author, who is also a senior lawyer, has relied on any information beyond the published reports before arriving at his legal opinion, which he has chosen to express so publicly. In the rest of the article, the author goes on to excoriate all that the Acharya has been doing throughout his life. This is trial by the media at its worst.
It seems that the role the "Hindu" is performing is not that of a newspaper, of an unbiased reporter of the events and views, but that of a party to the dispute and prosecution.
Much of the mainstream English press and almost all of the visual media are behaving similarly. Since there cannot possibly be a personal animus against the Acharya, it seems what is motivating the media is an animus against the Hindu society. They seem to be having a field day reviling all that the Hindu society holds sacred.
Should or can we keep quiet?
Publication: Centre for Policy Studies
The Delhi edition of the "Hindu" of today carries a five column story on the issue of the arrest of Sri Kamakoti Peethadhipati Jagadguru Sankaracharya Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal. The story is entitled, "Case against Acharya gets strengthened: police". The story is prominently displayed and forms the second lead on the first page. As the title indicates, the story is based on a briefing on the issue by the police. And it is not a public briefing by any named officer who may be held responsible for the averments made; it is a private briefing attributed to unnamed police sources.
The story makes the contra-intuitive point that the retraction of the confessions by two of the accused, which form the most significant part of the evidence on the basis of which the Acharya was arrested, actually strengthens the police case against the. The rest of the story carries varied insinuations against the Acharya and other people who, unlike the source in the police, have been named by the newspaper.
The second main news page of the paper, opposite the edit page, prominently carries the story of the rejection by the Supreme Court of a PIL requesting CBI probe into the issue.
The stories regarding protest and agitation against the arrest are relegated to small entries at the bottom of this page. And, the letter written by the Prime Minister of India to the Chief Minster of Tamil Nadu expressing concern about the health of the Acharya is placed on an inconsequential internal page, a quarter of which is devoted to news from the South and the remaining three-fourths to advertisements.
The editorial page carries an article by Rajeev Dhawan which claims to assess the evidence against the Acharya and concludes that "there is a strong prima facie case" against the Acharya and hence denial of bail to him is justified. There is nothing in the article to indicate that the author, who is also a senior lawyer, has relied on any information beyond the published reports before arriving at his legal opinion, which he has chosen to express so publicly. In the rest of the article, the author goes on to excoriate all that the Acharya has been doing throughout his life. This is trial by the media at its worst.
It seems that the role the "Hindu" is performing is not that of a newspaper, of an unbiased reporter of the events and views, but that of a party to the dispute and prosecution.
Much of the mainstream English press and almost all of the visual media are behaving similarly. Since there cannot possibly be a personal animus against the Acharya, it seems what is motivating the media is an animus against the Hindu society. They seem to be having a field day reviling all that the Hindu society holds sacred.
Should or can we keep quiet?
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Religious heads decry ‘ill-treatment’ of Kanchi Acharya
Publication: PTI
Prominent religious leaders from Karnataka today expressed "outrage" over what they called "ill treatment" of Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi, arrested in connection with a murder case, but said the law should take its own course.
Condemning the "treatment meted out to the Sankaracharya as if he is a criminal" disregarding his status as the temporal head of an important religious seat, leaders who met here to discuss the issue said it had caused deep anguish to them.
"We as swamijis are not above the law. We have to uphold the Constitution as citizens of the country. But the Sankaracharya should have been treated with respect in keeping with his status. He has been ill treated as if he has a long criminal history," head of Taralabalu Mutt and prominent leader of the dominant Lingayat community, Shivamurthy Shivacharga said.
Speaking to reporters after their meeting called by the "Acharya Sabha" of Karnataka, they, however, made it clear that "nobody is above the law" and the court should decide on the murder case.
The Art of Living Foundation founder Ravishankar said the law must prevail in the case but they were pained at the manner in which "it (the issue) was handled". "It could have been handled in a better way."
Udupi Pejawar Mutt Swamiji Sri Viswesha Thirtha swamiji said Jayendra Saraswathi was only an accused and he should be given "proper treatment" in line with his status as the temporal head of a prominent Hindu seat.
"We all share the anguish caused to the seer of the Kanchi mutt. It should not happen to anyone. Respect should have been given in keeping with his status," Sri Balagangadharanath Swamiji of the Adichunchanagiri Mutt of the prominent community of Vokkaligas, said.
The Taralabalu mutt leader said they were not against the arrest of the Kanchi seer as such but "his ill treatment". "If the court decides tomorrow that he is innocent, who will set right the damage already done."
"In our view, the Kanchi Shankaracharya is neither guilty nor innocent. He is only an accused now," he said.
Shivarathri Desikendra Mahaswamiji of another prominent Lingayat Mutt at Suttur said the manner of the Kanchi seer's arrest gave an impression as if it had been done with prejudice.
He should have been extended the minimum courtesies and facilities due to him, though they were not calling his arrest "wrong", he said.
The Pejawar seer said the judiciary should decide the case but the bail for the swamiji should not have been opposed. He said there should be no politics in the matter.
The Jagatguru of Kudligi Sringeri Mutt, Pushpagiri Swamiji of Hyderabad, Shivapuri Swamiji of Omkar Hills, Dayananda Saraswathi of Rishikesh and representatives of Sri Sri Gangadharendra Swarnavalli Mahasamsthanam and Abhinava Vidya Sankara swamiji of Avani Sringeri Mutt also attended the meet.
Prominent religious leaders from Karnataka today expressed "outrage" over what they called "ill treatment" of Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi, arrested in connection with a murder case, but said the law should take its own course.
Condemning the "treatment meted out to the Sankaracharya as if he is a criminal" disregarding his status as the temporal head of an important religious seat, leaders who met here to discuss the issue said it had caused deep anguish to them.
"We as swamijis are not above the law. We have to uphold the Constitution as citizens of the country. But the Sankaracharya should have been treated with respect in keeping with his status. He has been ill treated as if he has a long criminal history," head of Taralabalu Mutt and prominent leader of the dominant Lingayat community, Shivamurthy Shivacharga said.
Speaking to reporters after their meeting called by the "Acharya Sabha" of Karnataka, they, however, made it clear that "nobody is above the law" and the court should decide on the murder case.
The Art of Living Foundation founder Ravishankar said the law must prevail in the case but they were pained at the manner in which "it (the issue) was handled". "It could have been handled in a better way."
Udupi Pejawar Mutt Swamiji Sri Viswesha Thirtha swamiji said Jayendra Saraswathi was only an accused and he should be given "proper treatment" in line with his status as the temporal head of a prominent Hindu seat.
"We all share the anguish caused to the seer of the Kanchi mutt. It should not happen to anyone. Respect should have been given in keeping with his status," Sri Balagangadharanath Swamiji of the Adichunchanagiri Mutt of the prominent community of Vokkaligas, said.
The Taralabalu mutt leader said they were not against the arrest of the Kanchi seer as such but "his ill treatment". "If the court decides tomorrow that he is innocent, who will set right the damage already done."
"In our view, the Kanchi Shankaracharya is neither guilty nor innocent. He is only an accused now," he said.
Shivarathri Desikendra Mahaswamiji of another prominent Lingayat Mutt at Suttur said the manner of the Kanchi seer's arrest gave an impression as if it had been done with prejudice.
He should have been extended the minimum courtesies and facilities due to him, though they were not calling his arrest "wrong", he said.
The Pejawar seer said the judiciary should decide the case but the bail for the swamiji should not have been opposed. He said there should be no politics in the matter.
The Jagatguru of Kudligi Sringeri Mutt, Pushpagiri Swamiji of Hyderabad, Shivapuri Swamiji of Omkar Hills, Dayananda Saraswathi of Rishikesh and representatives of Sri Sri Gangadharendra Swarnavalli Mahasamsthanam and Abhinava Vidya Sankara swamiji of Avani Sringeri Mutt also attended the meet.
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Press, pressure; Karuna, Jaya: Who will pay for the truth?
Author: Siddhartha Reddy
Publication: The Asian Age
The arrest of the Kanchi Shankaracharya could prove to be a dangerous turning point for India. Chances are the polity will never be the same again. The incident once again highlighted that India has neither a capable government nor an effective Opposition.
The BJP woke up to respond to the arrest after eight long days, and resorted to, not a fast unto action, but a relay fast for three days.
Hinduism as a religion does not have a single referral point. There is no apex icon or institution like Mecca for Muslims and Vatican for Roman Catholics. While devout Muslims and Christians congregate at mosques and churches on Fridays and Sundays, a Hindu congregation at the temples is not a must. Aham Brahmasmi, God is in me, everywhere, is the fundamental principle. Therefore, an attack on any Hindu symbol doesn't generate as devastating a reaction as it would from any other religion.
However, in recent times the Shankaracharya's high profile has had an impact on large sections of the Hindu population, so hurt and anger can lead to an explosion. Secular Hindus witnessed on live television a Hindu icon's bizarre midnight arrest during Diwali holidays. He was arrested, and made to sit until daybreak without even being allowed to call his lawyer, charged and thrown into jail. Compared to that, even terrorists attacking Parliament were treated with more dignity. After this brazenness can secular Hindus remain secular? Yes. Because secularism is the way of their life.
In this context, it also must be mentioned that pontiffs must behave responsibly for they have an example to set. They should be detached from greedy relatives, materialism and money and banish from the system persons of doubtful integrity. So the Shankaracharya needs to introspect whether any unworthy character influenced Mutt functioning, and thus created a national crisis and embarrassed his devotees.
The Shankaracharya is brilliant. He has widened spiritualism to embrace education, health, relief and social service. He has created world-class institutions managed by the best brains. The assets are worth Rs 10,000 crores, where every institution is audited, even the Mutt. Apex politicians, bureaucrats, industrialists, NRIs, media-barons, judges, scientists, doctors, academicians and celebrities are his devotees. Through him, Atal Behari Vajpayee attempted resolving the Ayodhya tangle. He is respected by leaders of other faiths.
During his arrest, by submitting himself to the process of law and by not making any provocative statements through the media, he has behaved commendably. The Shankaracharya believes he has been framed and that the conspirators will be exposed and pay a heavy political and legal price.
The Shankaracharya has been speaking against conversion. Unfortunately, many religious leaders believe that Sonia Gandhi is unfairly employing governmental power, funds and facilities to change India's demography. Can, in future, church leaders, on trumped up allegations be whisked away from Sunday prayers or during Christmas? Can Muslim religious leaders, possibly on false charges, be arrested during Friday prayers, or during Id? After Shankaracharya, yes.
The attitude of our current rulers is rather disturbing. The positions of the Prime Minister and Congress president are held by non-Hindus. Could a Hindu PM, or a Hindu Congress president have kept quiet on a momentous incident like the arrest of a Shankaracharya?
By not intervening to calm people's nerves, Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi have torn the nation's secular fabric. They should have called an all-party meeting, a meeting of leaders from different religions, and should have addressed the nation on television. Their silence is unpardonable. History will never forgive them.
It is time that national psyche is protected, so it is time that President Kalam stepped in.He should address the nation on live television to help people absorb the shock and to unite them irrespective of religion, caste and politics. He should initiate an investigation to find out whether the Shankaracharya is guilty or whether he was framed. Also, he should stipulate a code of arrest for religious leaders to avoid similar situations in the future.
The Dravidian parties are not anti-Hindu, they are just anti-Brahmin. The Dravidian movement united farmers, backwards and dalits against a Brahmin-led Congress. It is a different matter that the movement fizzled out with the Dravidian leaders proving worse than the Congress leaders when it came to governance, integrity, casteism and nepotism. The rise of Hindu aggressive politics in the national scenario motivated the Dravidian parties to bed the BJP, diluting their Dravidian character.
As for M. Karunanidhi, his last hope is to install son Stalin as chief minister of Tamil Nadu after the May 2006 Assembly election. An impatient Karunanidhi wanted Jayalalitha's dismissal, President's Rule and elections.
The DMK has always been anti-Shankaracharya. It is close to the Nakeeran editor Gopal, who campaigns against the Shankaracharya. The murder victim was close to DMK and Gopal, and was against the Shankaracharya. The temple where the victim was working, had stopped giving business to a DMK contractor. Did this contractor have a motive? Did DMK, Nakeeran Gopal and other anti-Shankaracharya activists have any involvement with the murdered victim? Is the LTTE involved? Investigators might find new clues thus complicating the case.
The police had earlier wound up the case, but it was reopened under DMK's pressure. DMK was threatening a dharna by Karunanidhi on November 13. Jayalalitha got worried that the DMK-Congress would use the fact that the Shankaracharya had not been arrested and would dismiss her government saying it was not functioning in accordance with the Constitution. President's Rule could have been imposed on November 14 itself. Did the change of governor terrify Jayalalitha? Seeing time running out, did Jayalalitha save herself by rushing to get the Shankaracharya arrested?
She definitely used the arrest to move away from the BJP.
Jayalalitha can now claim that she performed her constitutional responsibilities and allowed the law to take its normal course. Sonia Gandhi and Karunanidhi's crude and hasty attempt to marginalise her has made her a secular heroine. She is now the darling of the Communists and the Congress' allies.
After her Shankaracharya initiative, it's impossible for Karunanidhi to defeat her in the Assembly elections. Karunanidhi's anti-Shankaracharya strategy has backfired. He even had to commend Jayalalitha.
The power-equations in Tamil Nadu will now change dramatically. The PMK and MDMK are getting ready to ally with the AIADMK, so is the Dalit Panthers Party. Jayalalitha will get the Dravidian vote. She can now even gun for Karunanidhi and Stalin.
As for the Shankaracharya, whatever be the media attempt to malign him, the courts could proclaim him innocent. Also, the police could finally arrive at the conclusion that he was framed. Then those who framed him will be at Jayalalitha's receiving end. Shankaracharya, if proved innocent, will have a powerful reincarnation and will generate a Hindi belt wave for a new anti-Congress political system. Nationwide, Hindu anger will escalate.
In a democracy the majority mustn't feel that it's in the minority, ruled by an unconcerned establishment. India needs a responsive PM and the Congress needs a genuinely secular president. So Kalam must heal the hurt, before the hotheads engulf the polity.
Publication: The Asian Age
The arrest of the Kanchi Shankaracharya could prove to be a dangerous turning point for India. Chances are the polity will never be the same again. The incident once again highlighted that India has neither a capable government nor an effective Opposition.
The BJP woke up to respond to the arrest after eight long days, and resorted to, not a fast unto action, but a relay fast for three days.
Hinduism as a religion does not have a single referral point. There is no apex icon or institution like Mecca for Muslims and Vatican for Roman Catholics. While devout Muslims and Christians congregate at mosques and churches on Fridays and Sundays, a Hindu congregation at the temples is not a must. Aham Brahmasmi, God is in me, everywhere, is the fundamental principle. Therefore, an attack on any Hindu symbol doesn't generate as devastating a reaction as it would from any other religion.
However, in recent times the Shankaracharya's high profile has had an impact on large sections of the Hindu population, so hurt and anger can lead to an explosion. Secular Hindus witnessed on live television a Hindu icon's bizarre midnight arrest during Diwali holidays. He was arrested, and made to sit until daybreak without even being allowed to call his lawyer, charged and thrown into jail. Compared to that, even terrorists attacking Parliament were treated with more dignity. After this brazenness can secular Hindus remain secular? Yes. Because secularism is the way of their life.
In this context, it also must be mentioned that pontiffs must behave responsibly for they have an example to set. They should be detached from greedy relatives, materialism and money and banish from the system persons of doubtful integrity. So the Shankaracharya needs to introspect whether any unworthy character influenced Mutt functioning, and thus created a national crisis and embarrassed his devotees.
The Shankaracharya is brilliant. He has widened spiritualism to embrace education, health, relief and social service. He has created world-class institutions managed by the best brains. The assets are worth Rs 10,000 crores, where every institution is audited, even the Mutt. Apex politicians, bureaucrats, industrialists, NRIs, media-barons, judges, scientists, doctors, academicians and celebrities are his devotees. Through him, Atal Behari Vajpayee attempted resolving the Ayodhya tangle. He is respected by leaders of other faiths.
During his arrest, by submitting himself to the process of law and by not making any provocative statements through the media, he has behaved commendably. The Shankaracharya believes he has been framed and that the conspirators will be exposed and pay a heavy political and legal price.
The Shankaracharya has been speaking against conversion. Unfortunately, many religious leaders believe that Sonia Gandhi is unfairly employing governmental power, funds and facilities to change India's demography. Can, in future, church leaders, on trumped up allegations be whisked away from Sunday prayers or during Christmas? Can Muslim religious leaders, possibly on false charges, be arrested during Friday prayers, or during Id? After Shankaracharya, yes.
The attitude of our current rulers is rather disturbing. The positions of the Prime Minister and Congress president are held by non-Hindus. Could a Hindu PM, or a Hindu Congress president have kept quiet on a momentous incident like the arrest of a Shankaracharya?
By not intervening to calm people's nerves, Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi have torn the nation's secular fabric. They should have called an all-party meeting, a meeting of leaders from different religions, and should have addressed the nation on television. Their silence is unpardonable. History will never forgive them.
It is time that national psyche is protected, so it is time that President Kalam stepped in.He should address the nation on live television to help people absorb the shock and to unite them irrespective of religion, caste and politics. He should initiate an investigation to find out whether the Shankaracharya is guilty or whether he was framed. Also, he should stipulate a code of arrest for religious leaders to avoid similar situations in the future.
The Dravidian parties are not anti-Hindu, they are just anti-Brahmin. The Dravidian movement united farmers, backwards and dalits against a Brahmin-led Congress. It is a different matter that the movement fizzled out with the Dravidian leaders proving worse than the Congress leaders when it came to governance, integrity, casteism and nepotism. The rise of Hindu aggressive politics in the national scenario motivated the Dravidian parties to bed the BJP, diluting their Dravidian character.
As for M. Karunanidhi, his last hope is to install son Stalin as chief minister of Tamil Nadu after the May 2006 Assembly election. An impatient Karunanidhi wanted Jayalalitha's dismissal, President's Rule and elections.
The DMK has always been anti-Shankaracharya. It is close to the Nakeeran editor Gopal, who campaigns against the Shankaracharya. The murder victim was close to DMK and Gopal, and was against the Shankaracharya. The temple where the victim was working, had stopped giving business to a DMK contractor. Did this contractor have a motive? Did DMK, Nakeeran Gopal and other anti-Shankaracharya activists have any involvement with the murdered victim? Is the LTTE involved? Investigators might find new clues thus complicating the case.
The police had earlier wound up the case, but it was reopened under DMK's pressure. DMK was threatening a dharna by Karunanidhi on November 13. Jayalalitha got worried that the DMK-Congress would use the fact that the Shankaracharya had not been arrested and would dismiss her government saying it was not functioning in accordance with the Constitution. President's Rule could have been imposed on November 14 itself. Did the change of governor terrify Jayalalitha? Seeing time running out, did Jayalalitha save herself by rushing to get the Shankaracharya arrested?
She definitely used the arrest to move away from the BJP.
Jayalalitha can now claim that she performed her constitutional responsibilities and allowed the law to take its normal course. Sonia Gandhi and Karunanidhi's crude and hasty attempt to marginalise her has made her a secular heroine. She is now the darling of the Communists and the Congress' allies.
After her Shankaracharya initiative, it's impossible for Karunanidhi to defeat her in the Assembly elections. Karunanidhi's anti-Shankaracharya strategy has backfired. He even had to commend Jayalalitha.
The power-equations in Tamil Nadu will now change dramatically. The PMK and MDMK are getting ready to ally with the AIADMK, so is the Dalit Panthers Party. Jayalalitha will get the Dravidian vote. She can now even gun for Karunanidhi and Stalin.
As for the Shankaracharya, whatever be the media attempt to malign him, the courts could proclaim him innocent. Also, the police could finally arrive at the conclusion that he was framed. Then those who framed him will be at Jayalalitha's receiving end. Shankaracharya, if proved innocent, will have a powerful reincarnation and will generate a Hindi belt wave for a new anti-Congress political system. Nationwide, Hindu anger will escalate.
In a democracy the majority mustn't feel that it's in the minority, ruled by an unconcerned establishment. India needs a responsive PM and the Congress needs a genuinely secular president. So Kalam must heal the hurt, before the hotheads engulf the polity.
Monday, November 22, 2004
Statement of RSS on Kanchi Swami Arrest
Statement of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) By Sri RVS Marimuthu, State President of RSS, Tamil Nadu
The RSS condemns unequivocally the arrest of Sri. Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal. Considering that Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal is a well known personality, being the head of an ancient & revered Mutt, there is no question of his avoiding or evading the process of law. Also because of the fact that the Kanchi Sankara Mutt is a highly respected institution, the RSS views the arrest as an extreme measure. Further millions of devotees belonging to different strata of the Hindu society from all over the world are deeply shocked and hurt by this highly questionable action.
The RSS therefore demands that respecting the feelings of millions of Hindus the Tamil Nadu Government should forthwith ensure his release. The RSS also appeals to the government to ensure that normal religious rituals including puja at the Mutt go on uninterrupted and the premises, properties and the devotees of the Mutt are protected against disturbance by anti social elements.
The RSS also appeals to the Hindu society, and the Hindu organizations and institutions to stand by the Kanchi Mutt which was headed by one of the greatest saints of the last century, the late Sri Paramacharya till 1994 and help the great institution to over come this crisis and challenge. The RSS further appeals to the Hindu society, Mutts, Thiru Adheenams and other institutions to hold prayer meetings to build the confidence of the Hindu society in the hour of crisis.
Issued by Tamil Nadu State RSS head quarters.
The RSS condemns unequivocally the arrest of Sri. Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal. Considering that Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal is a well known personality, being the head of an ancient & revered Mutt, there is no question of his avoiding or evading the process of law. Also because of the fact that the Kanchi Sankara Mutt is a highly respected institution, the RSS views the arrest as an extreme measure. Further millions of devotees belonging to different strata of the Hindu society from all over the world are deeply shocked and hurt by this highly questionable action.
The RSS therefore demands that respecting the feelings of millions of Hindus the Tamil Nadu Government should forthwith ensure his release. The RSS also appeals to the government to ensure that normal religious rituals including puja at the Mutt go on uninterrupted and the premises, properties and the devotees of the Mutt are protected against disturbance by anti social elements.
The RSS also appeals to the Hindu society, and the Hindu organizations and institutions to stand by the Kanchi Mutt which was headed by one of the greatest saints of the last century, the late Sri Paramacharya till 1994 and help the great institution to over come this crisis and challenge. The RSS further appeals to the Hindu society, Mutts, Thiru Adheenams and other institutions to hold prayer meetings to build the confidence of the Hindu society in the hour of crisis.
Issued by Tamil Nadu State RSS head quarters.
As the Sankaracharya stands like Abhimanyu ...
Author: S. Gurumurthy
Publication: The New Indian Express
The entire polity of Tamil Nadu except the BJP is ranged against him. Never in the history of the state did the DMK and the AIADMK, whose leaders never meet, ever unite on anything as they do on this issue and against him.
The lawyer’s outfits are targeting his head. For the 'secular' media it is a godsend to say not just that the Modi type Hindus are criminals, even Sankaracharya is one such. It is having a field day in publishing and showing all kinds of rubbish. Here there is no difference between the yellow journals and the serious ones in the content that is carried about him.
Today the Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati is standing like Abhimanyu caught in Chakravyuha. Thanks to the vicious atmosphere, the Acharya has been convicted at the bar of the public even as the investigation on the charges against him has just begun.
As his known enemies gloat over this, his vast and dignified followers who do not know how to burn buses and indulge in arson on the roads suffer in silence.
The charge against Sri Jayendra Saraswati is that he conspired to kill a person who was carrying on a vicious campaign against him and the Kanchi Mutt. The prosecution case is that the Acharya alone, almost no one else on his behalf or for his assistance, was involved in the conspiracy!
The police says, and wants all to believe, that Acharya himself identified the killers, negotiated the terms, gave them the contract, paid the advance, met the killers after the event, pleaded with them to bear with the delay in remitting the balance, and talked to them on phone and so on.
The case against the Acharya rests on three circumstances. One, the Acharya had a motive to eliminate the victim. Second, the Acharya was in contact with the main killer over phone. Third, there are cash withdrawals in the bank accounts of the Mutt, which have been used to pay off the contract killers.
This sums up the case against the Acharya.
There are two ways to approach a criminal investigation. Particularly in a case in which a revered religious leader, representing the oldest religious order of the nation, the Sankaracharya order, is involved.
One, that he is guilty because he could not get over the normal human failings of anger and vengeance. The other that he is innocent and is being fixed by the organisers of the crime using his own apparent motive.
Having almost condemned him as a criminal, let us look at it from the perspective that he may be innocent, a perspective the prosecution has clearly ignored.
Undeniably the victim was hostile to the Sankaracharya and the Mutt. So the Acharya could have had the motive to eliminate him. But the letters written by the victim and sent to all-important persons in society including the opposition parties, show that the victim has fixed who the accused would be if he were killed. He had said that if he were killed it was the Kanchi Mutt who would be responsible.
So here is a golden opportunity for some one to fix the Mutt and the Acharya, its head, if he so wished. All that one who had to do to finish off the reputation of a reputed Mutt and the Sankaracharya was to finish off the victim by a contract to kill him.
This could be done without any risk of the doer being accused of murder, as the victim has already identified who would be his killers.
The Sankaracharya must have known that if anything happened to the victim the investigation would target the Mutt, if not him. Why would he then invite the charge?
Despite the victim indicting the Acharya and the Mutt in advance of the murder, the police have gone on the assumption that the Acharya is guilty, namely that the Acharya invited the charge on himself by obliging the victim. This is totally against common sense.
Again the Kanchi Mutt had long been a target of the anti-Hindu Gods movement and the situation presented the best opportunity to hit at the credibility of that great institution. It was an eye sore to the rationalists and anti-nationals. That the main hit man engaged for the task is linked to the DMK is important.
Despite these circumstances, the prosecution has not examined, even in theory, whether some one else could have eliminated the victim so that the Mutt and the Acharya emerge as the readymade accused.
This may be less than a one per cent possibility, but still it is a possibility. A key prosecuting police official is too deeply associated with the DMK to be indifferent to his link. So from day one the police seem to have fixed the Acharya as the culprit and begun collecting evidence to that effect. Obviously this suits the settled political climate in this state.
Publication: The New Indian Express
The entire polity of Tamil Nadu except the BJP is ranged against him. Never in the history of the state did the DMK and the AIADMK, whose leaders never meet, ever unite on anything as they do on this issue and against him.
The lawyer’s outfits are targeting his head. For the 'secular' media it is a godsend to say not just that the Modi type Hindus are criminals, even Sankaracharya is one such. It is having a field day in publishing and showing all kinds of rubbish. Here there is no difference between the yellow journals and the serious ones in the content that is carried about him.
Today the Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati is standing like Abhimanyu caught in Chakravyuha. Thanks to the vicious atmosphere, the Acharya has been convicted at the bar of the public even as the investigation on the charges against him has just begun.
As his known enemies gloat over this, his vast and dignified followers who do not know how to burn buses and indulge in arson on the roads suffer in silence.
The charge against Sri Jayendra Saraswati is that he conspired to kill a person who was carrying on a vicious campaign against him and the Kanchi Mutt. The prosecution case is that the Acharya alone, almost no one else on his behalf or for his assistance, was involved in the conspiracy!
The police says, and wants all to believe, that Acharya himself identified the killers, negotiated the terms, gave them the contract, paid the advance, met the killers after the event, pleaded with them to bear with the delay in remitting the balance, and talked to them on phone and so on.
The case against the Acharya rests on three circumstances. One, the Acharya had a motive to eliminate the victim. Second, the Acharya was in contact with the main killer over phone. Third, there are cash withdrawals in the bank accounts of the Mutt, which have been used to pay off the contract killers.
This sums up the case against the Acharya.
There are two ways to approach a criminal investigation. Particularly in a case in which a revered religious leader, representing the oldest religious order of the nation, the Sankaracharya order, is involved.
One, that he is guilty because he could not get over the normal human failings of anger and vengeance. The other that he is innocent and is being fixed by the organisers of the crime using his own apparent motive.
Having almost condemned him as a criminal, let us look at it from the perspective that he may be innocent, a perspective the prosecution has clearly ignored.
Undeniably the victim was hostile to the Sankaracharya and the Mutt. So the Acharya could have had the motive to eliminate him. But the letters written by the victim and sent to all-important persons in society including the opposition parties, show that the victim has fixed who the accused would be if he were killed. He had said that if he were killed it was the Kanchi Mutt who would be responsible.
So here is a golden opportunity for some one to fix the Mutt and the Acharya, its head, if he so wished. All that one who had to do to finish off the reputation of a reputed Mutt and the Sankaracharya was to finish off the victim by a contract to kill him.
This could be done without any risk of the doer being accused of murder, as the victim has already identified who would be his killers.
The Sankaracharya must have known that if anything happened to the victim the investigation would target the Mutt, if not him. Why would he then invite the charge?
Despite the victim indicting the Acharya and the Mutt in advance of the murder, the police have gone on the assumption that the Acharya is guilty, namely that the Acharya invited the charge on himself by obliging the victim. This is totally against common sense.
Again the Kanchi Mutt had long been a target of the anti-Hindu Gods movement and the situation presented the best opportunity to hit at the credibility of that great institution. It was an eye sore to the rationalists and anti-nationals. That the main hit man engaged for the task is linked to the DMK is important.
Despite these circumstances, the prosecution has not examined, even in theory, whether some one else could have eliminated the victim so that the Mutt and the Acharya emerge as the readymade accused.
This may be less than a one per cent possibility, but still it is a possibility. A key prosecuting police official is too deeply associated with the DMK to be indifferent to his link. So from day one the police seem to have fixed the Acharya as the culprit and begun collecting evidence to that effect. Obviously this suits the settled political climate in this state.
Sankaracharya’s Arrest :Dalit Hindu Peoples’ Sabha Condemns
'Kanchi seer has to be released immediately. Arresting him at mid-night and throwing him into jail like an ordinary criminal is condemnable" said Dalit Hindu Makkal Sabha".
"Besides doing spiritual work. the Swamigal was carrying on the work of consolidation of the society, Education, and health .the arrest has been carried out just to put hurdles in this work and to tarnish the image of the Mutt. The other reasons are to appease the other religions the threats of the anti-Hindu parties".
"Arresting a Hindu religious leader on false charges ,arresting him at midnight and putting him in jail as an ordinary criminal has evoked the opposition of the entire Hindu community. Hence he should be released immediately. To show our opposition we had demonstrated twice under the leadership of our state leader Ganesh.
If the seer is not released immediately a massive demonstration will be organized." the release of the Dalit Hindu Makkal Sabha said. (Dinamalr:21.11.04)
Human Chain To Protest Sankaracharya's Arrest
Demanding the release of the Kanchi Seer, human chain protests were organized in Chennai on at various places on 20.11.04
The state president of the BJP, Sri.C.P.Radhakrishnan presided over the protest at the Thirupathi Balaji temple at T.Nagar. Similar protests were held near Sri Parthasarathy tekmple at Thiruvallikkeni by Sri.Vedantham of VHP, near Sri Kapaleeswara temple, Mylapore by BJP MLA. K.N Lakshmanan and near the vadapalani Muruga temple by former union minister Thirunavukkarasar. Besides such protests were held at many other places in the city and the suburbs, In the suburbs the protests were led by BJP MLA Raja ,the president of the Kancheepuram district BJP, Sivaraman and VHP leader Narayanaswamy.
Similarly BJP organized a protest near the Kanchi Sankara Mutt .Leades of Hindu Munnani, RSS, and BJP yuva morcha leaders participated. They raised slogans like "Release Jayendrar and don't foist false cases'. (Courtesy:Dinamalr 21.11.04) interbanational vice-president
Mata Amritanadamayi Expresses Anguish At Seer's Arrest
"I am saddened by the arrest of Sri.Jayendra Saraswathi Swami" said Mata Amritanandamayi , a great Hindu spiritual leader.
In a release she has said that" It is very sad. It seems like a dream. The fact that the drama still continues, deepens the mental wounds .Great many Peetadhipathis during Sri Adi Sankara's time have been safeguarding the Vedas. No one should try to weaken this heritage. It is like mixing salt in the Milk of Gnana that has been given by the Vedas. There may be differences in the society. But we must forget them and for the sake of the Vedas and Adi Sankara we must unite. Otherwise the differences will widen and give rise to more problems." (Dinamalar;21.11.04)
"Besides doing spiritual work. the Swamigal was carrying on the work of consolidation of the society, Education, and health .the arrest has been carried out just to put hurdles in this work and to tarnish the image of the Mutt. The other reasons are to appease the other religions the threats of the anti-Hindu parties".
"Arresting a Hindu religious leader on false charges ,arresting him at midnight and putting him in jail as an ordinary criminal has evoked the opposition of the entire Hindu community. Hence he should be released immediately. To show our opposition we had demonstrated twice under the leadership of our state leader Ganesh.
If the seer is not released immediately a massive demonstration will be organized." the release of the Dalit Hindu Makkal Sabha said. (Dinamalr:21.11.04)
Human Chain To Protest Sankaracharya's Arrest
Demanding the release of the Kanchi Seer, human chain protests were organized in Chennai on at various places on 20.11.04
The state president of the BJP, Sri.C.P.Radhakrishnan presided over the protest at the Thirupathi Balaji temple at T.Nagar. Similar protests were held near Sri Parthasarathy tekmple at Thiruvallikkeni by Sri.Vedantham of VHP, near Sri Kapaleeswara temple, Mylapore by BJP MLA. K.N Lakshmanan and near the vadapalani Muruga temple by former union minister Thirunavukkarasar. Besides such protests were held at many other places in the city and the suburbs, In the suburbs the protests were led by BJP MLA Raja ,the president of the Kancheepuram district BJP, Sivaraman and VHP leader Narayanaswamy.
Similarly BJP organized a protest near the Kanchi Sankara Mutt .Leades of Hindu Munnani, RSS, and BJP yuva morcha leaders participated. They raised slogans like "Release Jayendrar and don't foist false cases'. (Courtesy:Dinamalr 21.11.04) interbanational vice-president
Mata Amritanadamayi Expresses Anguish At Seer's Arrest
"I am saddened by the arrest of Sri.Jayendra Saraswathi Swami" said Mata Amritanandamayi , a great Hindu spiritual leader.
In a release she has said that" It is very sad. It seems like a dream. The fact that the drama still continues, deepens the mental wounds .Great many Peetadhipathis during Sri Adi Sankara's time have been safeguarding the Vedas. No one should try to weaken this heritage. It is like mixing salt in the Milk of Gnana that has been given by the Vedas. There may be differences in the society. But we must forget them and for the sake of the Vedas and Adi Sankara we must unite. Otherwise the differences will widen and give rise to more problems." (Dinamalar;21.11.04)
Unless the case is reinvestigated, justice will not be done
Author: S Gurumurthy
Publication: The New Indian Express
The case against the Sankaracharya of Kanchi appears to be on slippery ground. Who are the witnesses against him? Two of the several professional killers, habitual criminals, yes, criminals, confessing to the crime as being at the instance of the Acharya. It is no secret that these people say what the police want them to say. Still it is the confession of these criminals which constitutes the ``shocking evidence'' against the Acharya. The confessions were not before the court, but before the police officers. After one of them confessed before the police on November 10 and the Acharya arrested on that basis, he was presented in the court nine days later on November 19, the coaching to him to fix the Acharya being complete meanwhile. Another criminal whose confession has been relied upon is still to confess before the magistrate.
But look at the story of the confessors. They are not the main actors in the killing, but just sidekicks, with whom the Acharya would never have dealt with as, even if had had to, he would deal only through their leaders. Insiders in the police say that the main characters are two: one Appu and the other Chinna. Both are still at large. Chinna, who has another name, Rajni, seems to be the principal executor. He has many murders to his credit. But insiders say that the police seem to have got not this Rajni alias Chinna, but some other Rajni and got him to confess to the crime. The real Rajni alias Chinna is still untraced. The real Rajni is well known in the underworld in Chennai. But the Rajni arrested is a small-time offender, who is not skilled enough to kill. Not a figure in the underworld at all. This, if proved, could dynamite the prosecution. The public prosecutor called the Acharya ``the worst criminal'' on the basis of the confession one of who may be a fake Rajni.
The other charges are that the main offender had spoken to the Acharya over phone. This is no surprise as Jayendra Saraswathi is known to be open to all. Deviating from the Mutt traditions, he entertained the worst offenders, met and blessed them. This used to offend his more conservative disciples. So receiving calls from Appu, a person charged with offence in this case, is no surprise. He must have received calls from many Appus. That cannot link the Acharya to the offender in the case.
The police have alleged that money was paid to the contract killers from the Mutt accounts. This story told in the open court on Saturday got changed in the affidavit on Monday. The police had earlier asserted that it was from the ICICI bank accounts of the Mutt. The Mutt denied that it had ICICI accounts. Now the police are searching for the bank accounts of persons other than the Mutt to fix the payments. This shows how anxious the authorities are to get at the Acharya. Yet, such is the obsession to declare the Acharya guilty that not a single newspaper highlighted this volte-face by the police.
The prosecution is shaky. The police insiders admit that this prosecution will not succeed. But that does not matter. The prosecution has already succeeded in convicting the Acharya through the media. So, proof is irrelevant, why, even court proceedings and eventually the judgment itself may be irrelevant. One can recall how a case against the Ananda Marg was perverted in the investigation to fix the chief of the organisation on similar facts, similar witnesses and similar events, because of lack of public vigil and scrutiny during the 1970s. There is every possibility that using the lack of public scrutiny here too the same thing would happen. How can the Acharya get justice in this atmosphere in the state? Here the advice of `Cho' Ramaswamy that the investigation and prosecution should be shifted to another state seems to be the only way to ensure justice to the Acharya.
Undeniably, the investigation is moving single-mindedly to fix the Acharya. This ignores another perspective, that the offenders have fixed the Acharya himself. Instead of killing the victim, fixing the Acharya could well be the motive of the killers. So it calls for a thorough re-investigation. Applying all possibilities, including that the organisers of the crime might have fixed the Acharya and the police could well have become a victim to the fix. Without a thorough re-investigation justice will derail.
Politically, this could happen only to a Hindu religious leader. It is unthinkable that an Imam could ever be arrested in this country, and never on Ramzan Day. An Archbishop could never be arrested on Christmas Day. But a Sankaracharya could be arrested on Deepavali Day. This sums up the content of secularism in India. Someone said on television the other day, ``There were no disturbances following the arrest.'' Does this not imply that it is a disqualification for the Acharya that he has peaceful followers? Is the model for religious leadership that of Shahi Imam who dared the government to arrest him and face the consequences?
If this be the correct model for success, may be over a period of time the Hindus too will acquire that trait so that no one gloats after arresting a Sankaracharya that there is no law and order problem. So if the Hindu religious leaders find peaceful disciples useless, they will also build a following that will qualitatively match the following of a Shahi Imam.
Publication: The New Indian Express
The case against the Sankaracharya of Kanchi appears to be on slippery ground. Who are the witnesses against him? Two of the several professional killers, habitual criminals, yes, criminals, confessing to the crime as being at the instance of the Acharya. It is no secret that these people say what the police want them to say. Still it is the confession of these criminals which constitutes the ``shocking evidence'' against the Acharya. The confessions were not before the court, but before the police officers. After one of them confessed before the police on November 10 and the Acharya arrested on that basis, he was presented in the court nine days later on November 19, the coaching to him to fix the Acharya being complete meanwhile. Another criminal whose confession has been relied upon is still to confess before the magistrate.
But look at the story of the confessors. They are not the main actors in the killing, but just sidekicks, with whom the Acharya would never have dealt with as, even if had had to, he would deal only through their leaders. Insiders in the police say that the main characters are two: one Appu and the other Chinna. Both are still at large. Chinna, who has another name, Rajni, seems to be the principal executor. He has many murders to his credit. But insiders say that the police seem to have got not this Rajni alias Chinna, but some other Rajni and got him to confess to the crime. The real Rajni alias Chinna is still untraced. The real Rajni is well known in the underworld in Chennai. But the Rajni arrested is a small-time offender, who is not skilled enough to kill. Not a figure in the underworld at all. This, if proved, could dynamite the prosecution. The public prosecutor called the Acharya ``the worst criminal'' on the basis of the confession one of who may be a fake Rajni.
The other charges are that the main offender had spoken to the Acharya over phone. This is no surprise as Jayendra Saraswathi is known to be open to all. Deviating from the Mutt traditions, he entertained the worst offenders, met and blessed them. This used to offend his more conservative disciples. So receiving calls from Appu, a person charged with offence in this case, is no surprise. He must have received calls from many Appus. That cannot link the Acharya to the offender in the case.
The police have alleged that money was paid to the contract killers from the Mutt accounts. This story told in the open court on Saturday got changed in the affidavit on Monday. The police had earlier asserted that it was from the ICICI bank accounts of the Mutt. The Mutt denied that it had ICICI accounts. Now the police are searching for the bank accounts of persons other than the Mutt to fix the payments. This shows how anxious the authorities are to get at the Acharya. Yet, such is the obsession to declare the Acharya guilty that not a single newspaper highlighted this volte-face by the police.
The prosecution is shaky. The police insiders admit that this prosecution will not succeed. But that does not matter. The prosecution has already succeeded in convicting the Acharya through the media. So, proof is irrelevant, why, even court proceedings and eventually the judgment itself may be irrelevant. One can recall how a case against the Ananda Marg was perverted in the investigation to fix the chief of the organisation on similar facts, similar witnesses and similar events, because of lack of public vigil and scrutiny during the 1970s. There is every possibility that using the lack of public scrutiny here too the same thing would happen. How can the Acharya get justice in this atmosphere in the state? Here the advice of `Cho' Ramaswamy that the investigation and prosecution should be shifted to another state seems to be the only way to ensure justice to the Acharya.
Undeniably, the investigation is moving single-mindedly to fix the Acharya. This ignores another perspective, that the offenders have fixed the Acharya himself. Instead of killing the victim, fixing the Acharya could well be the motive of the killers. So it calls for a thorough re-investigation. Applying all possibilities, including that the organisers of the crime might have fixed the Acharya and the police could well have become a victim to the fix. Without a thorough re-investigation justice will derail.
Politically, this could happen only to a Hindu religious leader. It is unthinkable that an Imam could ever be arrested in this country, and never on Ramzan Day. An Archbishop could never be arrested on Christmas Day. But a Sankaracharya could be arrested on Deepavali Day. This sums up the content of secularism in India. Someone said on television the other day, ``There were no disturbances following the arrest.'' Does this not imply that it is a disqualification for the Acharya that he has peaceful followers? Is the model for religious leadership that of Shahi Imam who dared the government to arrest him and face the consequences?
If this be the correct model for success, may be over a period of time the Hindus too will acquire that trait so that no one gloats after arresting a Sankaracharya that there is no law and order problem. So if the Hindu religious leaders find peaceful disciples useless, they will also build a following that will qualitatively match the following of a Shahi Imam.
False Allegation about Kanchi seer Nepal fly
Publication: Media Centre, Chennai
There was an allegation that Sankaracharaya is likely to flee to Nepal, and he is making arrangements to leave India from Pune by special aircraft. In this context, the procedure that should be followed towards take off any private aircraft is as follows:
a) Prior permission should be obtained from Air Trarric Control (ATC) for any proposed take off of any private aircraft.
b) Prior permission should be obtained from Defence Authorities for any such takeoff of private aircraft.
The reasons for the above mentioned clearance is to ensure that there is free air traffic and to check the security and other agencies, regarding the passenger of such aircraft and the destination where it reaches. If such permission was not obtained such aircraft would be bought down forcefully or shot down by the military person.
No such permission was sought for from any quarters and the Pune police was not informed of this fact or neither any permission was sought for for such proposed fly over to Nepal from Pune before the concerned authorities.
There is an allegation by the Prosecution that Swamyji was preparing to flee to Nepal from Pune as stated by the public prosecutor in the court.. In this context the Tamilnadu Police should have sought information from the Pune police whether such information is true. The statement made by the Pune Commissioner Mr D.N.Jadhav that the Pune Police have no idea whatsoever about any probable plan of the Swamyji about the escape to Nepal and that no police quarter from Tamilnadu ever visited Pune in this regard would show that the police is only trying to the pre-judice the mind of the public and the Court to scuttle the moves of Swamyji from getting bail.
This statement was made by Mr. D.N.Jadhav, Commissioner of Police, Pune in an English Daily namely The Hitavada on 18th November, 2004.
But it is evident that the public prosecutor by making such statement before the court really prejudice the mind of the court not only in the matter relating to the grant of bail but also prevented the court from taking a sympathetic view by lodging the swamyji in a guest house.
There was an allegation that Sankaracharaya is likely to flee to Nepal, and he is making arrangements to leave India from Pune by special aircraft. In this context, the procedure that should be followed towards take off any private aircraft is as follows:
a) Prior permission should be obtained from Air Trarric Control (ATC) for any proposed take off of any private aircraft.
b) Prior permission should be obtained from Defence Authorities for any such takeoff of private aircraft.
The reasons for the above mentioned clearance is to ensure that there is free air traffic and to check the security and other agencies, regarding the passenger of such aircraft and the destination where it reaches. If such permission was not obtained such aircraft would be bought down forcefully or shot down by the military person.
No such permission was sought for from any quarters and the Pune police was not informed of this fact or neither any permission was sought for for such proposed fly over to Nepal from Pune before the concerned authorities.
There is an allegation by the Prosecution that Swamyji was preparing to flee to Nepal from Pune as stated by the public prosecutor in the court.. In this context the Tamilnadu Police should have sought information from the Pune police whether such information is true. The statement made by the Pune Commissioner Mr D.N.Jadhav that the Pune Police have no idea whatsoever about any probable plan of the Swamyji about the escape to Nepal and that no police quarter from Tamilnadu ever visited Pune in this regard would show that the police is only trying to the pre-judice the mind of the public and the Court to scuttle the moves of Swamyji from getting bail.
This statement was made by Mr. D.N.Jadhav, Commissioner of Police, Pune in an English Daily namely The Hitavada on 18th November, 2004.
But it is evident that the public prosecutor by making such statement before the court really prejudice the mind of the court not only in the matter relating to the grant of bail but also prevented the court from taking a sympathetic view by lodging the swamyji in a guest house.
Hindu religious leaders meet President
Author: PTI
Publication: The Hindu
Stepping up their campaign in support of the jailed Kanchi Shankaracharya, a delegation of Hindu religious leaders today met President A P J Abdul Kalam and demanded his intervention to secure the pontiff's release.
The 18-member delegation, which also included VHP leaders Ashok Singhal and Vishnu Hari Dalmia, also demanded a "fair and impartial" CBI probe into the case and shifting of trial outside Tamil Nadu.
"We requested the President to personally intervene in the matter and direct the Union Government to secure immediate release of the Seer," Mahant Gyan Das, head of the Akhara Parishad, an umbrella organisation of religious leaders, told reporters here emerging out of the 15-minute meeting with Kalam.
Mahamandleshwar Avdeshananda of Juna Akhara said the delegation told Kalam that many countries have special procedures to deal with religious leaders in such situations.
The religious leaders, apprising the President of the demand by some Left Parties to acquire Hindu religious institutions and temples and bring them under the tax net, conveyed their strident opposition to it.
"The President assured us that he would take appropriate action," the Juna Akhara Chief said.
Publication: The Hindu
Stepping up their campaign in support of the jailed Kanchi Shankaracharya, a delegation of Hindu religious leaders today met President A P J Abdul Kalam and demanded his intervention to secure the pontiff's release.
The 18-member delegation, which also included VHP leaders Ashok Singhal and Vishnu Hari Dalmia, also demanded a "fair and impartial" CBI probe into the case and shifting of trial outside Tamil Nadu.
"We requested the President to personally intervene in the matter and direct the Union Government to secure immediate release of the Seer," Mahant Gyan Das, head of the Akhara Parishad, an umbrella organisation of religious leaders, told reporters here emerging out of the 15-minute meeting with Kalam.
Mahamandleshwar Avdeshananda of Juna Akhara said the delegation told Kalam that many countries have special procedures to deal with religious leaders in such situations.
The religious leaders, apprising the President of the demand by some Left Parties to acquire Hindu religious institutions and temples and bring them under the tax net, conveyed their strident opposition to it.
"The President assured us that he would take appropriate action," the Juna Akhara Chief said.
Karunanidhi suspects “motives” behind seer’s arrest
Author: PTI
Publication: The Hindu
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M Karunanidhi today said he suspected "personal vengeance and motives" behind the way in which Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati was treated after his arrest.
"It is too much. My opinion is the same as that of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue," he told reporters.
"We have welcomed the arrest of Sankaracharya but now we have come to know that there are certain things behind the arrest. There is personal vengeance on the part of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa," he alleged.
He said the Sankaracharya was arrested only after two and a half months after the temple official Sankararaman was murdered. "What happened in between. Why is the delay. They say it was due to investigation. But on hearing certain facts, doubts have been created," he said.
Asked whether there was a political motive behind the arrest, he said, "there are a lot of personal issues between Jayalalithaa and the Sankaracharya. This should not be forgotten."
Asked whether his present statement contradicted his earlier stand of welcoming the arrest, Karunanidhi said "I welcomed the arrest then. But further information on the arrest has raised a lot of doubts."
The Government had not given any proper explanation to the doubts raised by some leaders on the arrest of Sankaracharya and on the killing of forest brigand Veerappan, he said.
On VHP working president Ashok Singhal's allegation against Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the arrest issue, he said nobody will accept it.
On the BJP's protest against the arrest, he said "they are doing their duty. But it is better that they do not spark any communal fight over the issue," he said.
On remarks expressed by certain quarters that the seer was innocent, he said it was for the court to decide.
Publication: The Hindu
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M Karunanidhi today said he suspected "personal vengeance and motives" behind the way in which Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati was treated after his arrest.
"It is too much. My opinion is the same as that of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue," he told reporters.
"We have welcomed the arrest of Sankaracharya but now we have come to know that there are certain things behind the arrest. There is personal vengeance on the part of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa," he alleged.
He said the Sankaracharya was arrested only after two and a half months after the temple official Sankararaman was murdered. "What happened in between. Why is the delay. They say it was due to investigation. But on hearing certain facts, doubts have been created," he said.
Asked whether there was a political motive behind the arrest, he said, "there are a lot of personal issues between Jayalalithaa and the Sankaracharya. This should not be forgotten."
Asked whether his present statement contradicted his earlier stand of welcoming the arrest, Karunanidhi said "I welcomed the arrest then. But further information on the arrest has raised a lot of doubts."
The Government had not given any proper explanation to the doubts raised by some leaders on the arrest of Sankaracharya and on the killing of forest brigand Veerappan, he said.
On VHP working president Ashok Singhal's allegation against Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the arrest issue, he said nobody will accept it.
On the BJP's protest against the arrest, he said "they are doing their duty. But it is better that they do not spark any communal fight over the issue," he said.
On remarks expressed by certain quarters that the seer was innocent, he said it was for the court to decide.
Sunday, November 21, 2004
My guru, Jayendra Saraswathi is innocent: Vijayendra Saraswathi
Publication: www.newkerala.com
Vijayendra Saraswathi, junior pontiff of the Kanchi Mutt, firmly believes that his spiritual guru, Jayendra Saraswathi, is innocent of the charges of involvement in murder slapped against the arrested seer.
"I have firm belief in one thing. My guru is innocent. Every allegation made against him is untrue," the junior seer said in his first interview since the Nov 11 arrest of Jayendra Saraswathi.
Amidst reports that there is a move to install the 35-year-old Vijayendra Saraswathi as chief of the powerful Shankara Mutt in Kanchipuram, the mutt has blamed the media for false reporting.
In an interview to T.S.V. Hari, editor of the religious magazine "Kamakoti" that will hit the stands Tuesday, an emotional Vijayendra Saraswathi said: "I have requested the advocates representing us to seek the permission (of the magistrate) to enable me to meet my guru in person... a one-on-one meeting. That is all I want ... for now."
Hari writes: "Two words can aptly describe the expression on the face of His Holiness Sri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswathi. Stunned disbelief."
"As a matter of policy, the mutt has now learnt to forget the existence of the contraption called mobile phone."
While arresting the senior pontiff, police had furnished as evidence mobile phones numbers and conversations relating to the execution of the crime - the murder in September of Shankara Raman, a former mutt employee.
"As a believer in the Hindu faith and as a devotee of the mutt, this scribe wanted to hear from the present centre of power (Vijayendra) of the 2,500-year-old institution, what it was all about," Hari writes.
"At 8.45 a.m. the mutt was almost deserted. But for a strong contingent of policemen outside, and three old hands at the place, there was an eerie silence... a far cry from the usual hustle and bustle one associates with the institution."
"With innocent incredulity" Hari writes, Vijayendra asked him: " 'Why has the press suddenly turned so hostile towards us'?"
"The junior seer asked the question not as a rhetoric. It was obvious that he is yet to come to terms with a medium called television which captured his visuals and juxtaposed it with diatribe."
"As every hour passes, I am informed that a new series of lies have been said about us. When people started saying that my brother from my previous ashram was trying to hide from law, I requested the television crews to come here and take pictures of him. They did that and uttered more untruths," Vijayendra told Hari.
"'Now I know better. The press is free to write and show what it wants. I only have one wish now. I just want to see my guru and hear what kind of tribulations he is undergoing - from him... straight. The second and third hand information is confusing and threatening at the same time', Vijayendra said emotionally."
Hari asked the junior pontiff: "Just tell me, your Holiness, what is the truth about Shankara Raman?"
"'I remember this man vaguely. That is all. All this talk about him being a former employee of the mutt and everything else is like a nightmare. But why talk about him? The courts can find out the truth.
"' But I have firm belief in one thing. My guru is innocent. Every allegation made against him is untrue. The outside world doesn't know what kind of rigorous discipline we have (and) how many rituals we have to perform.
"'Today, various newspapers and television channels publish and show some visual and add a different commentary totally twisting everything out of context. Someone told me that some television channel said that I was emotional and showed me brushing off the dust from my eyes, suggesting that I was shedding tears. Tell me, is this journalism?'"
"'Just request your readers that everyone prays for the release of my guru. I simply want him to be free. Everything else seems so needless for the moment', Vijayendra said in a matter-of-fact tone, blessed this scribe, got up and walked away toward the main hall of the mutt for puja," Hari writes.
Vijayendra Saraswathi, junior pontiff of the Kanchi Mutt, firmly believes that his spiritual guru, Jayendra Saraswathi, is innocent of the charges of involvement in murder slapped against the arrested seer.
"I have firm belief in one thing. My guru is innocent. Every allegation made against him is untrue," the junior seer said in his first interview since the Nov 11 arrest of Jayendra Saraswathi.
Amidst reports that there is a move to install the 35-year-old Vijayendra Saraswathi as chief of the powerful Shankara Mutt in Kanchipuram, the mutt has blamed the media for false reporting.
In an interview to T.S.V. Hari, editor of the religious magazine "Kamakoti" that will hit the stands Tuesday, an emotional Vijayendra Saraswathi said: "I have requested the advocates representing us to seek the permission (of the magistrate) to enable me to meet my guru in person... a one-on-one meeting. That is all I want ... for now."
Hari writes: "Two words can aptly describe the expression on the face of His Holiness Sri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswathi. Stunned disbelief."
"As a matter of policy, the mutt has now learnt to forget the existence of the contraption called mobile phone."
While arresting the senior pontiff, police had furnished as evidence mobile phones numbers and conversations relating to the execution of the crime - the murder in September of Shankara Raman, a former mutt employee.
"As a believer in the Hindu faith and as a devotee of the mutt, this scribe wanted to hear from the present centre of power (Vijayendra) of the 2,500-year-old institution, what it was all about," Hari writes.
"At 8.45 a.m. the mutt was almost deserted. But for a strong contingent of policemen outside, and three old hands at the place, there was an eerie silence... a far cry from the usual hustle and bustle one associates with the institution."
"With innocent incredulity" Hari writes, Vijayendra asked him: " 'Why has the press suddenly turned so hostile towards us'?"
"The junior seer asked the question not as a rhetoric. It was obvious that he is yet to come to terms with a medium called television which captured his visuals and juxtaposed it with diatribe."
"As every hour passes, I am informed that a new series of lies have been said about us. When people started saying that my brother from my previous ashram was trying to hide from law, I requested the television crews to come here and take pictures of him. They did that and uttered more untruths," Vijayendra told Hari.
"'Now I know better. The press is free to write and show what it wants. I only have one wish now. I just want to see my guru and hear what kind of tribulations he is undergoing - from him... straight. The second and third hand information is confusing and threatening at the same time', Vijayendra said emotionally."
Hari asked the junior pontiff: "Just tell me, your Holiness, what is the truth about Shankara Raman?"
"'I remember this man vaguely. That is all. All this talk about him being a former employee of the mutt and everything else is like a nightmare. But why talk about him? The courts can find out the truth.
"' But I have firm belief in one thing. My guru is innocent. Every allegation made against him is untrue. The outside world doesn't know what kind of rigorous discipline we have (and) how many rituals we have to perform.
"'Today, various newspapers and television channels publish and show some visual and add a different commentary totally twisting everything out of context. Someone told me that some television channel said that I was emotional and showed me brushing off the dust from my eyes, suggesting that I was shedding tears. Tell me, is this journalism?'"
"'Just request your readers that everyone prays for the release of my guru. I simply want him to be free. Everything else seems so needless for the moment', Vijayendra said in a matter-of-fact tone, blessed this scribe, got up and walked away toward the main hall of the mutt for puja," Hari writes.
Look who’s backing Shankaracharya
Author: IANS
Publication: The New Indian Express
Tamil Brahmins may or may not have come out in support of arrested Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi of Kanchipuram, but sections of the underprivileged Dalit classes have expressed anger at the treatment meted out to the seer.
Among the first to come out on the streets were members of the Hindu Munnani, a Hindu group primarily comprising Dalits.
Activists of this group have also clashed with police outside courts in Chennai and Kanchipuram.
They have also staked out in front of the Vellore jail where the Shankaracharya has spent a week for his suspected involvement in the murder of a former accountant of the Kanchipuram mutt.
While Hindu groups have been protesting, the anger of Dalits is an unusual phenomenon, given that the Shankaracharya traditionally represents upper caste Hindus.
Four Dalit hamlets in Porayar of the Nagapattinam district, 600 km south of the Tamil Nadu capital, are stunned by his arrest.
In the pontiff's birthplace, Irulneeki village, there is considerable anger among the 150 Dalit families over the arrest of the Shankaracharya who was reportedly in the process of making it a model village.
Jayendra Saraswathi formed the Chandrasekara Rural Development Trust there to launch several development schemes. The trust is credited with constructing 40 model group houses and a health centre with two doctors and six paramedics to help.
Supported by the mutt, the Tamil Nadu government has also taken up a pilot scheme for Dalit housing in the village.
Members of the scheduled tribe of 'Kattunanyakans', who are scavengers by profession, received financial help from the Shankaracharya to build a temple for the Amman mother goddess in 1992.
Now Natesan, the village council chief, tells journalists with tears in his eyes: "Shankaracharya taught us to worship. When many still considered us untouchables, he treated us with dignity".
Similar is the outpouring of protest in Rajivpuram, where another such temple is under construction, thanks to funds from the Kanchipuram mutt.
In the Bhudanoor village, 200 Dalit families have stories about the ways in which the Shankaracharya helped them.
The Shankaracharya has taken much flak for reaching out to Dalits, something rarely seen in Hindu priesthood that is dominated by a Brahminical order.
Critics accused him of breaking Hindu codes by blessing widows and Dalits and allowing general access to the mutt and temples.
But loyalists say there could be no greater humiliation to the pontiff than having to spend the night in an all women's police station.
The pontiff was arrested Nov 11 for his alleged links to the September murder of a former official of the Kanchipuram mutt, Sankara Raman.
A Tamil Nadu court on Friday permitted police to take him into three-day custody to question him intensively, even after he vehemently denied a murder charge against him.
Publication: The New Indian Express
Tamil Brahmins may or may not have come out in support of arrested Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi of Kanchipuram, but sections of the underprivileged Dalit classes have expressed anger at the treatment meted out to the seer.
Among the first to come out on the streets were members of the Hindu Munnani, a Hindu group primarily comprising Dalits.
Activists of this group have also clashed with police outside courts in Chennai and Kanchipuram.
They have also staked out in front of the Vellore jail where the Shankaracharya has spent a week for his suspected involvement in the murder of a former accountant of the Kanchipuram mutt.
While Hindu groups have been protesting, the anger of Dalits is an unusual phenomenon, given that the Shankaracharya traditionally represents upper caste Hindus.
Four Dalit hamlets in Porayar of the Nagapattinam district, 600 km south of the Tamil Nadu capital, are stunned by his arrest.
In the pontiff's birthplace, Irulneeki village, there is considerable anger among the 150 Dalit families over the arrest of the Shankaracharya who was reportedly in the process of making it a model village.
Jayendra Saraswathi formed the Chandrasekara Rural Development Trust there to launch several development schemes. The trust is credited with constructing 40 model group houses and a health centre with two doctors and six paramedics to help.
Supported by the mutt, the Tamil Nadu government has also taken up a pilot scheme for Dalit housing in the village.
Members of the scheduled tribe of 'Kattunanyakans', who are scavengers by profession, received financial help from the Shankaracharya to build a temple for the Amman mother goddess in 1992.
Now Natesan, the village council chief, tells journalists with tears in his eyes: "Shankaracharya taught us to worship. When many still considered us untouchables, he treated us with dignity".
Similar is the outpouring of protest in Rajivpuram, where another such temple is under construction, thanks to funds from the Kanchipuram mutt.
In the Bhudanoor village, 200 Dalit families have stories about the ways in which the Shankaracharya helped them.
The Shankaracharya has taken much flak for reaching out to Dalits, something rarely seen in Hindu priesthood that is dominated by a Brahminical order.
Critics accused him of breaking Hindu codes by blessing widows and Dalits and allowing general access to the mutt and temples.
But loyalists say there could be no greater humiliation to the pontiff than having to spend the night in an all women's police station.
The pontiff was arrested Nov 11 for his alleged links to the September murder of a former official of the Kanchipuram mutt, Sankara Raman.
A Tamil Nadu court on Friday permitted police to take him into three-day custody to question him intensively, even after he vehemently denied a murder charge against him.
Mutt describes murder charge as “outrageous”
Author: PTI
Publication: www.123bharath.com
Describing the murder charge against the Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi as "outrageous", the Kanchi mutt today expressed the hope that "the dark hour too shall pass".
"The Acharya had travelled more than a million kms on foot reaching more than 3000 villages and small towns in the past over 50 years and helping people affected by natural calamities like floods and earthquakes.
The simple, selfless saint of the masses is now facing an outrageous charge. Such a charge is directed against the very Acharya whose compassion has reached millions with his helping hand", one of the advertisements put out by the mutt in a leading daily said adding "it is indeed the darkest hour for his devotees and those interested in following the tenets of Hindu dharma".
Recalling an appropriate quote from late Mahaswami Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi, it said "with the blessings of the Mahaswami, this dark hour too shall pass".
Detailing his "selfless service" in over 50 years, another advertisement said "there are dark clouds on the horizon, which like all other clouds will disappear one day", obviously referring to his arrest.
Publication: www.123bharath.com
Describing the murder charge against the Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi as "outrageous", the Kanchi mutt today expressed the hope that "the dark hour too shall pass".
"The Acharya had travelled more than a million kms on foot reaching more than 3000 villages and small towns in the past over 50 years and helping people affected by natural calamities like floods and earthquakes.
The simple, selfless saint of the masses is now facing an outrageous charge. Such a charge is directed against the very Acharya whose compassion has reached millions with his helping hand", one of the advertisements put out by the mutt in a leading daily said adding "it is indeed the darkest hour for his devotees and those interested in following the tenets of Hindu dharma".
Recalling an appropriate quote from late Mahaswami Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi, it said "with the blessings of the Mahaswami, this dark hour too shall pass".
Detailing his "selfless service" in over 50 years, another advertisement said "there are dark clouds on the horizon, which like all other clouds will disappear one day", obviously referring to his arrest.
It’s like Emergency: Advani
Author: Sanjay Singh/ New Delhi
Publication: The Pioneer
It was an overtly combative Om chant which reverberated Parlia-ment Street on Saturday morning, signalling BJP's anger and anguish over the shabby treatment meted out to Kanchi pontiff Jayendra Saraswati.
"Dharam guruon ka apman nahi sahega Hindustan. Congress-Communist jawab de in, hartyare kyun sarkar mein aur Shankaracharya kyun jail mein," was the slogan that set the tone of the three-day BJP dharna and relay fast over the seer's arrest.
Addressing the gathering, Leader of Opposition and party president L K Advani said: "Those who insult spiritual leaders do not understand India and its cultural traditions. The BJP stands for certain values in politics and if the BJP does not raise this issue then who would?"
He said he saw "no dividing line between dharam shakti and raj shakti" and quoted Mahatma Gandhi ("I am not willing to associate with politics which has no relation with religion") to buttress his point.
Seeking to unleash a debate on secularism, Mr Advani said: "Unfortunately in our country, distorted definitions of secularism are given which border on being anti-religious. It relates not only to Hinduism but also to Islam and Christianity."
Mr Advani likened the seer's remand with Emergency. "An unimaginable thing happened nine days back. Another such thing had happened 29 years ago. The rulers today are giving the same logic they gave for imposition of Emergency. Then also, the Left supported the Congress and today, too, it is supporting the Congress. They will have to pay the same price that the party had to pay then."
The dharna, being dubbed as "a fight against insult to a spiritual leader and assault on religion," could also have a cementing effect within Sangh Parivar where some dissenting voices had recently surfaced.
The dharna got a further filip when Aasaram Bapu, a godman with a committed following, joined the agitation kicked off by Mr Advani. His devotees kept flocking the spot throughout the day. By the time the relay fast ended at 6 pm, the BJP leaders had won over a number of prominent religious leaders. While Jain Munis wanted to join the agitation, Mata Amritanandamayi in a faxed statement expressed solidarity with the cause. The dharna may be extended to seven days if the seer's police remand is extended.
Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi will lead the fast on Sunday and Jaswant Singh on Monday. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee would conclude the agitation. Aasaram Bapu is expected to participate on Sunday too. Prominent Muslim leaders Mr Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Mr Shahnawaz Hussain, Ms Najma Heptullah and Mr Arif Mohammad Khan were present. Second generation leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley and new entrant Varun Gandhi also addressed the meeting.
Publication: The Pioneer
It was an overtly combative Om chant which reverberated Parlia-ment Street on Saturday morning, signalling BJP's anger and anguish over the shabby treatment meted out to Kanchi pontiff Jayendra Saraswati.
"Dharam guruon ka apman nahi sahega Hindustan. Congress-Communist jawab de in, hartyare kyun sarkar mein aur Shankaracharya kyun jail mein," was the slogan that set the tone of the three-day BJP dharna and relay fast over the seer's arrest.
Addressing the gathering, Leader of Opposition and party president L K Advani said: "Those who insult spiritual leaders do not understand India and its cultural traditions. The BJP stands for certain values in politics and if the BJP does not raise this issue then who would?"
He said he saw "no dividing line between dharam shakti and raj shakti" and quoted Mahatma Gandhi ("I am not willing to associate with politics which has no relation with religion") to buttress his point.
Seeking to unleash a debate on secularism, Mr Advani said: "Unfortunately in our country, distorted definitions of secularism are given which border on being anti-religious. It relates not only to Hinduism but also to Islam and Christianity."
Mr Advani likened the seer's remand with Emergency. "An unimaginable thing happened nine days back. Another such thing had happened 29 years ago. The rulers today are giving the same logic they gave for imposition of Emergency. Then also, the Left supported the Congress and today, too, it is supporting the Congress. They will have to pay the same price that the party had to pay then."
The dharna, being dubbed as "a fight against insult to a spiritual leader and assault on religion," could also have a cementing effect within Sangh Parivar where some dissenting voices had recently surfaced.
The dharna got a further filip when Aasaram Bapu, a godman with a committed following, joined the agitation kicked off by Mr Advani. His devotees kept flocking the spot throughout the day. By the time the relay fast ended at 6 pm, the BJP leaders had won over a number of prominent religious leaders. While Jain Munis wanted to join the agitation, Mata Amritanandamayi in a faxed statement expressed solidarity with the cause. The dharna may be extended to seven days if the seer's police remand is extended.
Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi will lead the fast on Sunday and Jaswant Singh on Monday. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee would conclude the agitation. Aasaram Bapu is expected to participate on Sunday too. Prominent Muslim leaders Mr Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Mr Shahnawaz Hussain, Ms Najma Heptullah and Mr Arif Mohammad Khan were present. Second generation leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley and new entrant Varun Gandhi also addressed the meeting.
Friday, November 19, 2004
This priestly turbulence
Author: Ashok Malik
Publication: The Indian Express
It would appear the Shankaracharya has been convicted, not accused Murder in the Cathedral meets Template of Doom. As soon as Jayendra Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Kanchi, was arrested for alleged involvement in the murder of a temple official, the great Indian punditocracy responded with its pet theories.
Rather than a focused inquiry, it quite suddenly became an all-purpose ''secularism-communalism'' debate. Overinterpretation went into overdrive. Jayalalithaa had arrested the Shankaracharya because she wanted to distance herself from the BJP, one theory went. After all, Jayendra Saraswati was close to saffron politics.
The VHP, with its equally simplistic reading of life, saw the invisible hand of the Congress. Sonia Gandhi's party wanted Muslim votes in Bihar and so had masterminded the Shankaracharya's arrest.
On television, the debate was as obtuse. The Shankaracharya doesn't matter, said one expert. After all, Hinduism has no Pope, it has no Vatican. Organised religion is bad.
In truth, nobody knew what to say. Some of what was said - such as in newspaper reports that traced the original (Adi) Shankaracharya's historicity to 500 BC, rather than the more accepted ninth century AD - didn't just confuse, it misled.
It's a pity. Even a fascinating issue such as the intrigue in Kanchi has led to reactions that are almost contrived, desperately wedded to preconceived notions.
It is all very well to argue that the Shankaracharya's arrest is in keeping with rule of law and secularism - as in separation of church and state. Yet it would help if this position were taken consistently.
There are cases against the Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid that lie forgotten. A few years ago, a well-known television anchor was implicated in his wife's death. The Delhi Police baulked when it realised he was probably hiding in the mosque where his father was the priest.
Doesn't secularism enjoin equal treatment under conditions of equality?
The Shankaracharya may or may not be guilty. What is disconcerting is the presumption of wrongdoing by some sections. It would appear he has been convicted, not accused. A familiar liberal prejudice is at work here.
A few weeks ago, a Maulana linked to the Godhra case was arrested in Hyderabad. His supporters tried to stop the police; one of them was shot. The press didn't report the evidence against the Maulana, but did describe the crowds and what the dead man's brother called his ''shahadat''.
In contrast, in Tamil Nadu we are told, nobody is bothered by the Shankaracharya's arrest. He doesn't matter, Hinduism has no Pope, it has no Vatican. Organised religion is bad...
Silly as this reasoning may be, it doesn't really absolve the Shankaracharya. True, he may not be directly responsible for the murder. Some say his words may have been misconstrued.
Indeed, when an exasperated Henry II exclaimed ''Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?'' four knights took him literally. They rode off to kill the king's arch-rival, Thomas Beckett, archbishop of Canterbury. Maybe Jayendra Saraswati has a similar alibi?
Others argue that the murdered man, Shankara Raman, was not quite above board himself. When the present Shankaracharya's predecessor, Chandrasekhara Saraswati, had turned 99 a decade ago, he was showered with gold coins. Some of those disappeared. Both Jayendra Saraswati and Shankara Raman had figured in the controversy.
Still others are queasy about whether the Kanchi math's prodigious properties make it something of an investment agent for politicians. Sashikala, once described as Jayalalithaa's ''sister'', has been a confidante of Jayendra Saraswati. One of the murder suspects is said to be related to a senior DMK leader. Shankara Raman versus Jayendra Saraswati versus Jayalalithaa: why does it all sound like shorthand for division of spoils?
The good Shaivite Iyers who are still in shock at the Shankaracharya's arrest deserve sympathy. For them the Kanchi math does matter, it is a spiritual reference point. Yet do they not need to ask some questions? Jayendra Saraswati's political activism has made him more accessible, less orthodox. Has it also compromised corporate governance at Kanchi?
More than a pointless slanging match between competitive and equally spurious ideas of secularism, isn't this what India should be debating? In this country, so packed with mass-based religion and closely-held religious institutions, doesn't the believer-stakeholder have the proverbial ''right to know''?
Publication: The Indian Express
It would appear the Shankaracharya has been convicted, not accused Murder in the Cathedral meets Template of Doom. As soon as Jayendra Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Kanchi, was arrested for alleged involvement in the murder of a temple official, the great Indian punditocracy responded with its pet theories.
Rather than a focused inquiry, it quite suddenly became an all-purpose ''secularism-communalism'' debate. Overinterpretation went into overdrive. Jayalalithaa had arrested the Shankaracharya because she wanted to distance herself from the BJP, one theory went. After all, Jayendra Saraswati was close to saffron politics.
The VHP, with its equally simplistic reading of life, saw the invisible hand of the Congress. Sonia Gandhi's party wanted Muslim votes in Bihar and so had masterminded the Shankaracharya's arrest.
On television, the debate was as obtuse. The Shankaracharya doesn't matter, said one expert. After all, Hinduism has no Pope, it has no Vatican. Organised religion is bad.
In truth, nobody knew what to say. Some of what was said - such as in newspaper reports that traced the original (Adi) Shankaracharya's historicity to 500 BC, rather than the more accepted ninth century AD - didn't just confuse, it misled.
It's a pity. Even a fascinating issue such as the intrigue in Kanchi has led to reactions that are almost contrived, desperately wedded to preconceived notions.
It is all very well to argue that the Shankaracharya's arrest is in keeping with rule of law and secularism - as in separation of church and state. Yet it would help if this position were taken consistently.
There are cases against the Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid that lie forgotten. A few years ago, a well-known television anchor was implicated in his wife's death. The Delhi Police baulked when it realised he was probably hiding in the mosque where his father was the priest.
Doesn't secularism enjoin equal treatment under conditions of equality?
The Shankaracharya may or may not be guilty. What is disconcerting is the presumption of wrongdoing by some sections. It would appear he has been convicted, not accused. A familiar liberal prejudice is at work here.
A few weeks ago, a Maulana linked to the Godhra case was arrested in Hyderabad. His supporters tried to stop the police; one of them was shot. The press didn't report the evidence against the Maulana, but did describe the crowds and what the dead man's brother called his ''shahadat''.
In contrast, in Tamil Nadu we are told, nobody is bothered by the Shankaracharya's arrest. He doesn't matter, Hinduism has no Pope, it has no Vatican. Organised religion is bad...
Silly as this reasoning may be, it doesn't really absolve the Shankaracharya. True, he may not be directly responsible for the murder. Some say his words may have been misconstrued.
Indeed, when an exasperated Henry II exclaimed ''Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?'' four knights took him literally. They rode off to kill the king's arch-rival, Thomas Beckett, archbishop of Canterbury. Maybe Jayendra Saraswati has a similar alibi?
Others argue that the murdered man, Shankara Raman, was not quite above board himself. When the present Shankaracharya's predecessor, Chandrasekhara Saraswati, had turned 99 a decade ago, he was showered with gold coins. Some of those disappeared. Both Jayendra Saraswati and Shankara Raman had figured in the controversy.
Still others are queasy about whether the Kanchi math's prodigious properties make it something of an investment agent for politicians. Sashikala, once described as Jayalalithaa's ''sister'', has been a confidante of Jayendra Saraswati. One of the murder suspects is said to be related to a senior DMK leader. Shankara Raman versus Jayendra Saraswati versus Jayalalithaa: why does it all sound like shorthand for division of spoils?
The good Shaivite Iyers who are still in shock at the Shankaracharya's arrest deserve sympathy. For them the Kanchi math does matter, it is a spiritual reference point. Yet do they not need to ask some questions? Jayendra Saraswati's political activism has made him more accessible, less orthodox. Has it also compromised corporate governance at Kanchi?
More than a pointless slanging match between competitive and equally spurious ideas of secularism, isn't this what India should be debating? In this country, so packed with mass-based religion and closely-held religious institutions, doesn't the believer-stakeholder have the proverbial ''right to know''?
It’s all like a nightmare, laments junior pontiff
Author: TSV Hari in Kancheepuram
Publication: Sify News
Two words can aptly describe the expression on the face of Shankara Vijayendra Saraswati, the junior pontiff of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham. Stunned disbelief.
The quest to meet the junior seer began nearly 18 hours before this report was filed. As a matter of policy, the Mutt has now learnt to forget the existence of the contraption called mobile phone.
As a believer in the Hindu faith, and as a devotee of the Mutt, this journalist wanted to hear from the present centre of power of the 2500 year old institution what it was all about. The terse reply on a landline connection said, 'Come before 9.00 am tomorrow.'
At 8:45 am, the Mutt was almost deserted. But for a strong contingent of policemen outside the Mutt, and three old hands at the place, there was an eerie silence - a far cry from the usual hustle and bustle that one normally associates with the institution.
The junior seer spotted this scribe and immediately stopped for a few words. It began with innocent incredulity.
"Why has the press suddenly turned so hostile towards us?" the junior seer asked the question not as a rhetoric.
It was obvious that he is yet to come to terms with a medium called television which captured his visuals and juxtaposed it with diatribe. | Full Coverage: Arrest of Kanchi Shankaracharya |
"As every hour passes, I am informed that a new series of lies has been said about us. When people started saying that my brother from my previous existence was trying to hide from law, I requested the television crews to come here and take pictures of him. They did that and uttered more untruths," he said.
"Now I know better. The press is free to write and show what it wants. I only have one wish now. I just want to see 'my guru' and hear from him what kind of tribulations he is undergoing. The second and third hand information is confusing and threatening at the same time," Vijayendra Saraswati said in an emotional tone.
"I have requested the advocates representing us to seek the permission (of magistrate Uttamraj] to enable me to meet my guru in person - a one- to-one meeting. That is all I want for now."
"Just tell me, what is the truth about Shankararaman?" this writer asked.
"I remember this man vaguely. That is all. All this talk about him being a former employee of the Mutt and everything else is like a nightmare. But why talk about him? The courts can find out the truth. But I have firm belief in one thing. My guru is innocent. Every allegation made against him is untrue."
"The outside world doesn't know what kind of rigorous discipline we have and how many rituals we have to perform. Today, various newspapers and television channels show some visual and add a different commentary, totally twisting everything out of context. Some one told me that a television channel said that I was emotional. They showed me brushing off the dust from my eyes, suggesting that I was shedding tears. Tell me, is this journalism?"
Devotees of the Mutt began gathering to seek the junior pontiff's blessings before he started his worship - the Chandramouleeshwarar Puja - which lasts a minimum of 140 minutes.
The junior seer seemed unaware of the passage of time till he was reminded about it politely. It seemed inappropriate to ask probing questions, because the auspicious minutes were fast approaching.
The wait to hear him utter something more seemed interminable though it lasted for just two minutes.
"Just request your readers to pray for the release of my guru. I simply want him to be free. Everything else seems so needless for the moment," he said in a matter of fact tone, blessed this scribe, got up and walked away towards the main hall of the Mutt for puja.
Publication: Sify News
Two words can aptly describe the expression on the face of Shankara Vijayendra Saraswati, the junior pontiff of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham. Stunned disbelief.
The quest to meet the junior seer began nearly 18 hours before this report was filed. As a matter of policy, the Mutt has now learnt to forget the existence of the contraption called mobile phone.
As a believer in the Hindu faith, and as a devotee of the Mutt, this journalist wanted to hear from the present centre of power of the 2500 year old institution what it was all about. The terse reply on a landline connection said, 'Come before 9.00 am tomorrow.'
At 8:45 am, the Mutt was almost deserted. But for a strong contingent of policemen outside the Mutt, and three old hands at the place, there was an eerie silence - a far cry from the usual hustle and bustle that one normally associates with the institution.
The junior seer spotted this scribe and immediately stopped for a few words. It began with innocent incredulity.
"Why has the press suddenly turned so hostile towards us?" the junior seer asked the question not as a rhetoric.
It was obvious that he is yet to come to terms with a medium called television which captured his visuals and juxtaposed it with diatribe. | Full Coverage: Arrest of Kanchi Shankaracharya |
"As every hour passes, I am informed that a new series of lies has been said about us. When people started saying that my brother from my previous existence was trying to hide from law, I requested the television crews to come here and take pictures of him. They did that and uttered more untruths," he said.
"Now I know better. The press is free to write and show what it wants. I only have one wish now. I just want to see 'my guru' and hear from him what kind of tribulations he is undergoing. The second and third hand information is confusing and threatening at the same time," Vijayendra Saraswati said in an emotional tone.
"I have requested the advocates representing us to seek the permission (of magistrate Uttamraj] to enable me to meet my guru in person - a one- to-one meeting. That is all I want for now."
"Just tell me, what is the truth about Shankararaman?" this writer asked.
"I remember this man vaguely. That is all. All this talk about him being a former employee of the Mutt and everything else is like a nightmare. But why talk about him? The courts can find out the truth. But I have firm belief in one thing. My guru is innocent. Every allegation made against him is untrue."
"The outside world doesn't know what kind of rigorous discipline we have and how many rituals we have to perform. Today, various newspapers and television channels show some visual and add a different commentary, totally twisting everything out of context. Some one told me that a television channel said that I was emotional. They showed me brushing off the dust from my eyes, suggesting that I was shedding tears. Tell me, is this journalism?"
Devotees of the Mutt began gathering to seek the junior pontiff's blessings before he started his worship - the Chandramouleeshwarar Puja - which lasts a minimum of 140 minutes.
The junior seer seemed unaware of the passage of time till he was reminded about it politely. It seemed inappropriate to ask probing questions, because the auspicious minutes were fast approaching.
The wait to hear him utter something more seemed interminable though it lasted for just two minutes.
"Just request your readers to pray for the release of my guru. I simply want him to be free. Everything else seems so needless for the moment," he said in a matter of fact tone, blessed this scribe, got up and walked away towards the main hall of the Mutt for puja.
Dalits: Kanchi leads the way
Author: Sandhya Jain
Publication: The Pioneer
The Shankaracharya of Kanchi, Swami Jayendra Saraswati, broke a critical stalemate in the current controversy over the merits of the Tamil Nadu ban on conversions by force, fraud or inducement, by offering worship at a Dalit-run temple in Madurai (The Hindu, 12 Nov. 2002). The Veerakali Amman temple, which serves the religious needs of eighteen villages and has a Dalit priest, lies in the Melur region where 250 Hindus were converted en masse by a Canadian priest of the Seventh Day Adventists on 25 August 2002. Previously, about fifteen hundred Hindus were converted in the neighbouring areas in January 2001. By giving the villagers an unexpected darshan, the Shankaracharya gracefully shattered several myths and assumptions about inequality and divisiveness in Hindu society.
Speaking with his legendary forthrightness, the seer told the gathering what many of us have always known, namely, that Hindu dharma does not promote or envision discrimination and regards people of all sections of society as equals. He rightly stressed that Hindus have an age-longtradition of living amicably as a "family", as brothers and sisters.Candidly accepting that there are always differences in society, headvised the people not to foster discrimination on this count, as unity has ever been the hallmark of the dharma.
The Shankaracharya has truly led by example, with a view to blunting the criticism of evangelizing faiths that social discrimination compels Dalits to embrace other faiths. Hitherto, Hindus have been rebutting the argument by pointing out that the condition of former Dalits does not improve upon leaving the mother faith, and that persisting discrimination in the new faiths has led Christian and Muslim groups to demand the extension of reservation benefits to ex-Dalits in their fold.
Swami Jayendra Saraswati, however, has risen above this cacophony to remind us that we cannot seek refuge in such specious arguments, and that it is our duty to uphold the principle of the brotherhood of man in our own lives. It is now enjoined upon each one of us to be worthy followers of a worthy leader. Tamil society in particular must rise to the occasion and accord the Dalits the personal dignity they crave for; a beginning must be made by doing away with the degrading two- glass system at village dhabas. In this regard, it may be worth noting that the Swamiji's choice of temple was singularly apt. The Veerakali Amman temple attracts devotees from all castes and is also a locally renowned symbol of communal harmony as Muslims regularly join the celebrations of its annual festival in January.
What is most exciting about this new call from the bastions of the mainstream tradition is that it cannot be set aside lightly as a maverick or fringe movement. Swami Jayendra Saraswati followed up the Madurai initiative at Tirunelveli by categorically asserting that Dalits have the right to enter any temple across the State, individually, and offer prayers. This may not make sense to many urban citizens. But what it means is that at many important temples, Dalits from outside the region do enter anonymously along with other pilgrims, but local Dalits who might be recognized would be barred or beaten for entering the precincts.
Now an orthodox Hindu leader with unparalleled knowledge of the shastras has ruled that "appropriate action" would be taken against those trying to prevent a Harijan from entering a temple. And as the cosmic vision of the Hindus does not envisage the shallow separation of religion and the public sphere, as Mahatma Gandhi had intuitively understood, the Shankaracharya has rightly asserted that religious leaders must increasingly participate in public life to foster a social renaissance.
Given the encouraging signs emanating from different parts of the country, it would appear that a major paradigm shift is in the making. Later this month, Hindu religious leaders are slated to meet at Kottakkal in Malappuram district, Kerala, to discuss whether temples should open their doors to all visitors, irrespective of religion (The Hindustan Times, 12 Nov. 2002). Historically, there are legitimate reasons for both the imposition of the ban, and socially, there are valid reasons for its revocation. A mature look at both sides of the coin would go a long way to ensure community amity and national harmony.
Those who contend that conversions are not an assault upon the country's native faith and living civilization would do well to recollect that Hindu dharma has suffered grievously for several centuries, and its temples have been the special foci of sustained assault and injury. Simply put, this is the reason for the self- protective ban on the entry of non-believers into temple precincts. Left historian Sanjay Subramaniam has recorded the fortuitous escape of the famed Tirupathi shrine from annihilation at the hands of the Portuguese. Can one imagine south India without Tirupathi? North India was home to several such Tirupathis; today it has only the Ganga. Yet, the priests of Tirupathi have welcomed all devotees provided only that they declare faith in Sri Venkatesvara; that is why it rankles to this day that Signora Sonia Gandhi should so arrogantly refuse this courtesy at such a holy shrine.
Nonetheless, much water has flown under the bridge, and communities have grown to the point that many individuals wish to stake claim to a larger Indic heritage. Hindu tradition is by definition inclusivist rather than exclusionary, hence deference to the sentiments of non- Hindu devotees would be highly appropriate. The present move is the result of the hurt felt by many at a perceived injustice to celebrated singer K.J. Yesudas, a great bhakta of Guruvayurappan, who has been denied temple entry on account of being born in a Christian family. The poet Yusufali Kecherry, who has written some of the best songs in honour of Lord Krishna, has also been excluded from Guruvayur because of his Muslim origins.
This seemingly innocuous issue came to the forefront a couple of years ago when the Guruvayur Temple performed a purificatory rite after the wedding of the son of Congress leader Vyalar Ravi. The explanation offered was that Mr. Ravi's wife was not a Hindu. But the incident proved unacceptable to the Hindu conscience and sparked off the present reformation drive. Much can be expected from the conclave as the chief of the Namboodiri sect has taken the lead in the matter and major temples and social organizations are expected to attend the meet. It seems reasonable to extend freedom of entry to all devotees (or for that matter even heritage tourists from other faiths) provided that they show proper respect to temple traditions and do not defile their sanctity. And it goes without saying that this generosity must extend to less privileged groups within the Hindu fold.
Change is already in the air. In strife-torn Bihar, birthplace of Lord Mahavira, the apostle of non-violence, authorities of Patna's famous Mahavira temple have decided to increase the number of Dalit priests after a successful experiment launched nine years ago. A former untouchable, Suryavanshi Das, was recruited as a priest and has been successfully performing the traditional rituals along with the Brahmin priests. His public acceptance is absolute. The temple administration actively promotes equality among human beings and maintains links with the Ramanandi community which practiced non-discrimination seven centuries ago.
Publication: The Pioneer
The Shankaracharya of Kanchi, Swami Jayendra Saraswati, broke a critical stalemate in the current controversy over the merits of the Tamil Nadu ban on conversions by force, fraud or inducement, by offering worship at a Dalit-run temple in Madurai (The Hindu, 12 Nov. 2002). The Veerakali Amman temple, which serves the religious needs of eighteen villages and has a Dalit priest, lies in the Melur region where 250 Hindus were converted en masse by a Canadian priest of the Seventh Day Adventists on 25 August 2002. Previously, about fifteen hundred Hindus were converted in the neighbouring areas in January 2001. By giving the villagers an unexpected darshan, the Shankaracharya gracefully shattered several myths and assumptions about inequality and divisiveness in Hindu society.
Speaking with his legendary forthrightness, the seer told the gathering what many of us have always known, namely, that Hindu dharma does not promote or envision discrimination and regards people of all sections of society as equals. He rightly stressed that Hindus have an age-longtradition of living amicably as a "family", as brothers and sisters.Candidly accepting that there are always differences in society, headvised the people not to foster discrimination on this count, as unity has ever been the hallmark of the dharma.
The Shankaracharya has truly led by example, with a view to blunting the criticism of evangelizing faiths that social discrimination compels Dalits to embrace other faiths. Hitherto, Hindus have been rebutting the argument by pointing out that the condition of former Dalits does not improve upon leaving the mother faith, and that persisting discrimination in the new faiths has led Christian and Muslim groups to demand the extension of reservation benefits to ex-Dalits in their fold.
Swami Jayendra Saraswati, however, has risen above this cacophony to remind us that we cannot seek refuge in such specious arguments, and that it is our duty to uphold the principle of the brotherhood of man in our own lives. It is now enjoined upon each one of us to be worthy followers of a worthy leader. Tamil society in particular must rise to the occasion and accord the Dalits the personal dignity they crave for; a beginning must be made by doing away with the degrading two- glass system at village dhabas. In this regard, it may be worth noting that the Swamiji's choice of temple was singularly apt. The Veerakali Amman temple attracts devotees from all castes and is also a locally renowned symbol of communal harmony as Muslims regularly join the celebrations of its annual festival in January.
What is most exciting about this new call from the bastions of the mainstream tradition is that it cannot be set aside lightly as a maverick or fringe movement. Swami Jayendra Saraswati followed up the Madurai initiative at Tirunelveli by categorically asserting that Dalits have the right to enter any temple across the State, individually, and offer prayers. This may not make sense to many urban citizens. But what it means is that at many important temples, Dalits from outside the region do enter anonymously along with other pilgrims, but local Dalits who might be recognized would be barred or beaten for entering the precincts.
Now an orthodox Hindu leader with unparalleled knowledge of the shastras has ruled that "appropriate action" would be taken against those trying to prevent a Harijan from entering a temple. And as the cosmic vision of the Hindus does not envisage the shallow separation of religion and the public sphere, as Mahatma Gandhi had intuitively understood, the Shankaracharya has rightly asserted that religious leaders must increasingly participate in public life to foster a social renaissance.
Given the encouraging signs emanating from different parts of the country, it would appear that a major paradigm shift is in the making. Later this month, Hindu religious leaders are slated to meet at Kottakkal in Malappuram district, Kerala, to discuss whether temples should open their doors to all visitors, irrespective of religion (The Hindustan Times, 12 Nov. 2002). Historically, there are legitimate reasons for both the imposition of the ban, and socially, there are valid reasons for its revocation. A mature look at both sides of the coin would go a long way to ensure community amity and national harmony.
Those who contend that conversions are not an assault upon the country's native faith and living civilization would do well to recollect that Hindu dharma has suffered grievously for several centuries, and its temples have been the special foci of sustained assault and injury. Simply put, this is the reason for the self- protective ban on the entry of non-believers into temple precincts. Left historian Sanjay Subramaniam has recorded the fortuitous escape of the famed Tirupathi shrine from annihilation at the hands of the Portuguese. Can one imagine south India without Tirupathi? North India was home to several such Tirupathis; today it has only the Ganga. Yet, the priests of Tirupathi have welcomed all devotees provided only that they declare faith in Sri Venkatesvara; that is why it rankles to this day that Signora Sonia Gandhi should so arrogantly refuse this courtesy at such a holy shrine.
Nonetheless, much water has flown under the bridge, and communities have grown to the point that many individuals wish to stake claim to a larger Indic heritage. Hindu tradition is by definition inclusivist rather than exclusionary, hence deference to the sentiments of non- Hindu devotees would be highly appropriate. The present move is the result of the hurt felt by many at a perceived injustice to celebrated singer K.J. Yesudas, a great bhakta of Guruvayurappan, who has been denied temple entry on account of being born in a Christian family. The poet Yusufali Kecherry, who has written some of the best songs in honour of Lord Krishna, has also been excluded from Guruvayur because of his Muslim origins.
This seemingly innocuous issue came to the forefront a couple of years ago when the Guruvayur Temple performed a purificatory rite after the wedding of the son of Congress leader Vyalar Ravi. The explanation offered was that Mr. Ravi's wife was not a Hindu. But the incident proved unacceptable to the Hindu conscience and sparked off the present reformation drive. Much can be expected from the conclave as the chief of the Namboodiri sect has taken the lead in the matter and major temples and social organizations are expected to attend the meet. It seems reasonable to extend freedom of entry to all devotees (or for that matter even heritage tourists from other faiths) provided that they show proper respect to temple traditions and do not defile their sanctity. And it goes without saying that this generosity must extend to less privileged groups within the Hindu fold.
Change is already in the air. In strife-torn Bihar, birthplace of Lord Mahavira, the apostle of non-violence, authorities of Patna's famous Mahavira temple have decided to increase the number of Dalit priests after a successful experiment launched nine years ago. A former untouchable, Suryavanshi Das, was recruited as a priest and has been successfully performing the traditional rituals along with the Brahmin priests. His public acceptance is absolute. The temple administration actively promotes equality among human beings and maintains links with the Ramanandi community which practiced non-discrimination seven centuries ago.
Thursday, November 18, 2004
Some Must Bow Down To Law, For Others, It Is The Other Way Round
Author: Vishweshwar Bhat
Publication: Vijaya Karnataka
[Shri Vishweshwar Bhat is the Chief Editor of 'Vijaya Karnataka'- a Kannada Daily from Bangalore. In an article published in this daily (on 18-11-2004), he deftly brings forth the truth that in our present day 'Secular' and 'Socialist' Bharat, Law could be a weapon to terrorise the helpless people, while the mighty ones are able to deflect it uncompunctiously. Written in the background of the arrest of the Kanchi Shankaracharya, this article needs to be read by all thinking persons, who are silently watching the development. An English translation of the article is being made available to you for your perusal by Rashtrotthan Research and Communication Centre (RRCC).]
Possibly, no one expected this to happen. And, such an incident can happen only in our country.
A meticulously organized effort is under way to make the people suspect Swami Jayendra Saraswati, the most revered head of the Hindu Religious Centre, Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, as a murderer. Let the court decide whether he is the one or not. It is not my point. My point is that he is already being treated as a murderer and has been subjected to many mazy questions. Even before the court's pronouncement that he is an offender, he is being treated as one. This, to me, is a most important question.
Tell me, where else in the world would you find such an ill-treatment met to a religious leader of the majority community of the country?
Let me remind. The Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt, is a hoary institution established by Shri Adi Shankara which sanctifies our land, Bharata Varsha. The head of such an adored institution is now being ill treated. His arrest at the dead of the night, that too on the eve of the Diwali festival, when he was engaged in a special pooja, and then forcing him to travel overnight hundreds of miles (from Mehboob nagar in AP to Chennai), placing him in a lock up as if he is an ordinary culprit, ruling out a request made on his behalf to place him in house arrest, and exuberant hailing of this by the Dravidian parties- all this makes one to smell a well organized plot. It is really painful that the administration did not feel like showing the ordinary curtsy to such an elderly, revered head of an important religious institution, when he was being taken into custody.
Strange things happen in this country. A murder takes place in the broad daylight and people who witness it, simply sighingly disregard it (because they know that high and mighty are behind it). Governments keep quiet when the culprits belong to certain castes or religious creeds. The chief accused in the multi-crore stamp paper scam was said to have been put behind the bars, but all know that it was only for record's sake that he was in jail. Other wise, he lived a five-star luxury life and was even moving out in posh cars with a live-band set to continue his operations. He could get any thing and every thing done by using his mobiles in the full knowledge of Ministers and the Government! Not even a hair of this criminal was daringly touched.
Industry Minister of Kerala, Mr. Kutty, all know, is involved in a sex scandal. His offence is beyond doubt, a number of witnesses being there. Any society that comes to know of a person of such ugly crimes, will not have him as a Minister even for a minute. No court is necessary to indict him. Yet, so far, no action has been taken against him. A reporter of the 'Matrubhoomi' daily who wrote about this Minister's exploits was assaulted. Similarly, another photographer was chased and man-handled. The Chief Minister dares not to ask the resignation from this Minister, because, the Muslim League, the party to which he belongs, has resolved that come what may, it won't allow him to be punished because his punishment would amount to the defaming of the party! such being the case, where is the law? Whither this democracy?
In the Kanchi Seer's case, statements are being increasingly bandied that- 'no one is above the law, however eminent the person be, he has to bow down'. Fine. True, no one is above the law. Legal pronouncements are to be obeyed by all. But should that not be equally applicable? Look what's actually happening. The Imam of Jama Masjid had been summoned at least six times to appear before a Court of Law. He did not do so. Then the Court ordered a warrant which could not be even served on him! No body asked why? Of course, there is no use in asking such a question. Because, it is evident that the very law which expects all to bend before it, will bow itself out in some specific cases. The Government knows about the culprits who dared an attack on our parliament house. It has ample profs. Even telephonic message records have been secured. Since they know who master minded the crime, the law has been allowed to keep silent.
Take the case of Laloo Prasad Yadav. He has earned the fame for having sucked the state of Bihar dry during a span of fifteen years. He successfully sucked from every source. He could munch even the animal fodder to the tune of a hundred crores. When he was so nibbling, no body could notice it. Now that every body has noticed, nobody can do anything about it. A court ordered him to prison. He happily went in. How that prison life for him was, is well known. It was a posh bungalow with all amenities there in. There were servants waiting on him to meet his requirements. His food was being prepared in his home and was being served by his wife, Smt. Rabdi Devi, who was also the Chief Minster of the State. Any body could freely visit him and also, he could summon state officials for giving them instructions. The Income-Tax officials who were thinking of initiating an action against him, because of accumulation of wealth far in excess to his known sources of income, were asked to keep quiet. All these go to show that the law was helpless and stood bowingly before him.
Tamil Nadu police have said that a sudden action against the Swamiji was necessitated because he had plans to escape into Nepal. Is it really believable that this aged and an ailing person, when being incriminated for a murder, is also being accused of planning to be a fugitive? Is he a Dawood Ibrahim, an Abu Salem? a Tiger Mammon? We had allowed Dawood, a committer of many heinous crimes, to easily escape from this county. Knowing fully well his present whereabouts, it appears we are not seriously trying to get him back! More importantly, when he was still with in the country, we had allowed him to freely conspire against us. It is now 10 years that he masterminded those serial bomb blasts in Mumbai. He is yet at large and we are sitting quiet as if we are not interested in catching him. Whereas we do little against the destablilishing activities of such anti-national elements, we accuse the Swamiji, who has not travelled to any foreign country and in fact, who thinks foreign travel as religiously forbidden and the one who can not even walk a length with out the help of his companions, that he was planning to escape into Nepal. Is this a tolerable accusation?
The DMK, as is well known, is criticizing and nagging Shri Jayendra Saraswati for the past thirty years. You might not have forgotten that in 1991, when Swamiji was passing through Saidapet in Chennai, some DMK workers instigated by Shri Karunanidhi, had pelted stones and cow dung against him. DMK, has since not let go any occasion that would bring slur on Shri Kanchi Mutt. Before to the recent Loksabha elections, Shri Karunanidhi had accused that Smt Jayalalitaa had applied the Anti-Conversion Law in Tamil Nadu as per the desire of the Swamiji. And, soon after the election defeat, Smt Jayalalitaa had repealed it. Smt Jayalalitaa is frightened at the core that she would be demolished in the ensuing Vidhan Sabha elections if she does not sizably get the minority support.
It might be that Shri Karunanidhi has designed a strategy to put Smt Jayalalitaa in a dilemma in this murder case. His aim is to renew the Dravidian Movement by accusing Smt Jaya a 'Sanatani', if she were not to arrest Shri Jayendra Saraswati. And, if she puts him behind the bars, she is sure to lose the Hindu votes. Calculatedly, he is going to be the beneficiary of any of her options.
DMK had lost its nerves because of the heightened popularity of Smt Jayalalitaa following the killing of the brigand, Veerappan. Smt. Jaya is also entertaining a fear that the newly appointed Governor could some how be pressurized to dismiss her Government on any manipulated ground. That's why she must have moved swiftly to arrest the Swamiji. This would not only prevent Shri Karunanidhi to come to the streets, it would also help her to keep the leadership of the Dravida Movement for herself. It is reasonable to think so in the prevailing political scenario in Tamil Nadu.
In this cut-throat politics, the real loser would be the Hindu Dharma. True, no body is above the Law. But it is also true that there is no law for the mighty. Now, tell me, how much secure is the majority community in our country?
Publication: Vijaya Karnataka
[Shri Vishweshwar Bhat is the Chief Editor of 'Vijaya Karnataka'- a Kannada Daily from Bangalore. In an article published in this daily (on 18-11-2004), he deftly brings forth the truth that in our present day 'Secular' and 'Socialist' Bharat, Law could be a weapon to terrorise the helpless people, while the mighty ones are able to deflect it uncompunctiously. Written in the background of the arrest of the Kanchi Shankaracharya, this article needs to be read by all thinking persons, who are silently watching the development. An English translation of the article is being made available to you for your perusal by Rashtrotthan Research and Communication Centre (RRCC).]
Possibly, no one expected this to happen. And, such an incident can happen only in our country.
A meticulously organized effort is under way to make the people suspect Swami Jayendra Saraswati, the most revered head of the Hindu Religious Centre, Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, as a murderer. Let the court decide whether he is the one or not. It is not my point. My point is that he is already being treated as a murderer and has been subjected to many mazy questions. Even before the court's pronouncement that he is an offender, he is being treated as one. This, to me, is a most important question.
Tell me, where else in the world would you find such an ill-treatment met to a religious leader of the majority community of the country?
Let me remind. The Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt, is a hoary institution established by Shri Adi Shankara which sanctifies our land, Bharata Varsha. The head of such an adored institution is now being ill treated. His arrest at the dead of the night, that too on the eve of the Diwali festival, when he was engaged in a special pooja, and then forcing him to travel overnight hundreds of miles (from Mehboob nagar in AP to Chennai), placing him in a lock up as if he is an ordinary culprit, ruling out a request made on his behalf to place him in house arrest, and exuberant hailing of this by the Dravidian parties- all this makes one to smell a well organized plot. It is really painful that the administration did not feel like showing the ordinary curtsy to such an elderly, revered head of an important religious institution, when he was being taken into custody.
Strange things happen in this country. A murder takes place in the broad daylight and people who witness it, simply sighingly disregard it (because they know that high and mighty are behind it). Governments keep quiet when the culprits belong to certain castes or religious creeds. The chief accused in the multi-crore stamp paper scam was said to have been put behind the bars, but all know that it was only for record's sake that he was in jail. Other wise, he lived a five-star luxury life and was even moving out in posh cars with a live-band set to continue his operations. He could get any thing and every thing done by using his mobiles in the full knowledge of Ministers and the Government! Not even a hair of this criminal was daringly touched.
Industry Minister of Kerala, Mr. Kutty, all know, is involved in a sex scandal. His offence is beyond doubt, a number of witnesses being there. Any society that comes to know of a person of such ugly crimes, will not have him as a Minister even for a minute. No court is necessary to indict him. Yet, so far, no action has been taken against him. A reporter of the 'Matrubhoomi' daily who wrote about this Minister's exploits was assaulted. Similarly, another photographer was chased and man-handled. The Chief Minister dares not to ask the resignation from this Minister, because, the Muslim League, the party to which he belongs, has resolved that come what may, it won't allow him to be punished because his punishment would amount to the defaming of the party! such being the case, where is the law? Whither this democracy?
In the Kanchi Seer's case, statements are being increasingly bandied that- 'no one is above the law, however eminent the person be, he has to bow down'. Fine. True, no one is above the law. Legal pronouncements are to be obeyed by all. But should that not be equally applicable? Look what's actually happening. The Imam of Jama Masjid had been summoned at least six times to appear before a Court of Law. He did not do so. Then the Court ordered a warrant which could not be even served on him! No body asked why? Of course, there is no use in asking such a question. Because, it is evident that the very law which expects all to bend before it, will bow itself out in some specific cases. The Government knows about the culprits who dared an attack on our parliament house. It has ample profs. Even telephonic message records have been secured. Since they know who master minded the crime, the law has been allowed to keep silent.
Take the case of Laloo Prasad Yadav. He has earned the fame for having sucked the state of Bihar dry during a span of fifteen years. He successfully sucked from every source. He could munch even the animal fodder to the tune of a hundred crores. When he was so nibbling, no body could notice it. Now that every body has noticed, nobody can do anything about it. A court ordered him to prison. He happily went in. How that prison life for him was, is well known. It was a posh bungalow with all amenities there in. There were servants waiting on him to meet his requirements. His food was being prepared in his home and was being served by his wife, Smt. Rabdi Devi, who was also the Chief Minster of the State. Any body could freely visit him and also, he could summon state officials for giving them instructions. The Income-Tax officials who were thinking of initiating an action against him, because of accumulation of wealth far in excess to his known sources of income, were asked to keep quiet. All these go to show that the law was helpless and stood bowingly before him.
Tamil Nadu police have said that a sudden action against the Swamiji was necessitated because he had plans to escape into Nepal. Is it really believable that this aged and an ailing person, when being incriminated for a murder, is also being accused of planning to be a fugitive? Is he a Dawood Ibrahim, an Abu Salem? a Tiger Mammon? We had allowed Dawood, a committer of many heinous crimes, to easily escape from this county. Knowing fully well his present whereabouts, it appears we are not seriously trying to get him back! More importantly, when he was still with in the country, we had allowed him to freely conspire against us. It is now 10 years that he masterminded those serial bomb blasts in Mumbai. He is yet at large and we are sitting quiet as if we are not interested in catching him. Whereas we do little against the destablilishing activities of such anti-national elements, we accuse the Swamiji, who has not travelled to any foreign country and in fact, who thinks foreign travel as religiously forbidden and the one who can not even walk a length with out the help of his companions, that he was planning to escape into Nepal. Is this a tolerable accusation?
The DMK, as is well known, is criticizing and nagging Shri Jayendra Saraswati for the past thirty years. You might not have forgotten that in 1991, when Swamiji was passing through Saidapet in Chennai, some DMK workers instigated by Shri Karunanidhi, had pelted stones and cow dung against him. DMK, has since not let go any occasion that would bring slur on Shri Kanchi Mutt. Before to the recent Loksabha elections, Shri Karunanidhi had accused that Smt Jayalalitaa had applied the Anti-Conversion Law in Tamil Nadu as per the desire of the Swamiji. And, soon after the election defeat, Smt Jayalalitaa had repealed it. Smt Jayalalitaa is frightened at the core that she would be demolished in the ensuing Vidhan Sabha elections if she does not sizably get the minority support.
It might be that Shri Karunanidhi has designed a strategy to put Smt Jayalalitaa in a dilemma in this murder case. His aim is to renew the Dravidian Movement by accusing Smt Jaya a 'Sanatani', if she were not to arrest Shri Jayendra Saraswati. And, if she puts him behind the bars, she is sure to lose the Hindu votes. Calculatedly, he is going to be the beneficiary of any of her options.
DMK had lost its nerves because of the heightened popularity of Smt Jayalalitaa following the killing of the brigand, Veerappan. Smt. Jaya is also entertaining a fear that the newly appointed Governor could some how be pressurized to dismiss her Government on any manipulated ground. That's why she must have moved swiftly to arrest the Swamiji. This would not only prevent Shri Karunanidhi to come to the streets, it would also help her to keep the leadership of the Dravida Movement for herself. It is reasonable to think so in the prevailing political scenario in Tamil Nadu.
In this cut-throat politics, the real loser would be the Hindu Dharma. True, no body is above the Law. But it is also true that there is no law for the mighty. Now, tell me, how much secure is the majority community in our country?
Thursday, November 11, 2004
Seer’s arrest defies all norms: Fernandes
Publication: Sify News
NDA convener George Fernandes on Tuesday lashed out at the way Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswathi was arrested and said all kinds of human rights had been violated with the Shankaracharya’s arrest.
After calling on the seer at the central prison in Vellore, he told reporters: "There is human rights violation in many ways. The Supreme Court has given a decision as to how to deal with such persons. Apart from the Supreme Court decision and his own status as a religious head, the way he has been arrested defied every norm of investigation."
The meeting lasted for nearly 30 minutes.
Pointing out that the seer was in good health and good spirits, Fernandes said, "The way the pontiff was arrested and treated defies all norms. There has to be some decency and the arrest should be according to law."
The former Defence minister said he had known Shankaracharya for over 30 years. The pontiff told him that people outside should not take things to such levels when things became "problematic."
"All those who are upset with the arrest should remain united," was the seer’s plea, Fernandes said.
NDA convener George Fernandes on Tuesday lashed out at the way Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswathi was arrested and said all kinds of human rights had been violated with the Shankaracharya’s arrest.
After calling on the seer at the central prison in Vellore, he told reporters: "There is human rights violation in many ways. The Supreme Court has given a decision as to how to deal with such persons. Apart from the Supreme Court decision and his own status as a religious head, the way he has been arrested defied every norm of investigation."
The meeting lasted for nearly 30 minutes.
Pointing out that the seer was in good health and good spirits, Fernandes said, "The way the pontiff was arrested and treated defies all norms. There has to be some decency and the arrest should be according to law."
The former Defence minister said he had known Shankaracharya for over 30 years. The pontiff told him that people outside should not take things to such levels when things became "problematic."
"All those who are upset with the arrest should remain united," was the seer’s plea, Fernandes said.
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