Seer's followers ask media to be objective

'Police action terrorising Mutt devotees'

NT Bureau
Chennai, Dec 5:

The mental agony of the devotees of Kanchi Mutt and followers of Sri Jayendra Saraswathi was evident over the Seer's arrest at a public meeting organised by the Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Chennapuri Bhakthajana Samajam here yesterday. More evident was their ire against the media.

While the topic of the meeting was 'Media Rumours vs Truth', except a couple of speakers, all others used the occasion to vent their anger against the media instead of disproving the rumours.

L Ganesan, national secretary, BJP, said the developments after the arrest of the Seer and the police action were aimed at 'terrorising' followers of the Kanchi Mutt. The doubt ringing in the minds of the people now is: 'Whether the Seer was arrested for the murder of Sankararaman or Sankararaman was murdered to effect the arrest of the Seer.' Ganesan also condemned the arrest of Seer on Deepavali day and the manner in which he was being treated by the State government.

BJP's State unit president C P Radhakrishnan, said by arresting the Seer, it was established that 'all are equal before law'. As such, hereafter, the law should not be bent in the case of any individual, whatever may be their stature. He also made a fervent plea to the media to report the events in an objective manner.

VHP functionary RBVS Manian while lashing out at the media for 'irresponsible' reporting in connection with the developments after the Seer's arrest, went overboard by using distasteful words against mediapersons amidst protests from the journalists present to cover the meeting. In a way, the purpose of the meeting was thwarted by his speech.

Abdul Kareem Bhare, member of the All Indian Muslim Personal Law Board and a Padmabhushan awardee, who came from Nagpur, regretted the attitude of the media in pronouncing the 'verdict' against the Seer even before the court had begun the actual trial.

Gouhar Aziz, founder of Bharathiya Prani Mithra Sangh, recalled the service activities of the Seer and his compassion towards animals.

Referring to the allegation made by noted writer Anuradha Ramanan against the Seer, Aziz said she and her women associates have been visiting the mutt for a long time and the charge of the women writer had only shown that how immoral she could be.

Senior advocate R Gandhi said he had never came across a murder case in the 44 years of his career as no evidence has been produced against the Seer so far in the Sankararaman murder case. Going by what has happened till now, all charges were being foisted against the Seer with only one motto that he should not come out of prison, he said and expressed confidence that the Judiciary would render justice.

Kakkan Viswanathan, brother of former Minister Kakkan (in Kamaraj Ministry), said Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa who declared in the Assembly that there was strong evidence against the Seer in the case should produce it before the court. He also recalled services of Sri Jayendra Saraswathi to the Dalit community.