Press Trust Of India
Monday, March 28, 2005
Kancheepuram, March 28: Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswathi on Monday visited the Sankara mutt for the first time since his arrest in connection with the Sankararaman murder case in October.
The seer spent nearly an hour at the mutt during which he performed puja and did meditation in front of the adishtanam (samadhi) of the Mahaswami Chandrasekhara Saraswathi, mutt sources said.
Later, he left for Kalavai.
Since the chargesheet has been filed in the Sankararaman murder case, the bail conditions prohibiting his entry into the mutt no longer exist and he did not violate the bail conditions, police said.
Earlier today, the seer visited the Kamakshi Amman temple here and performed milk abhishekam to the Adhi Sankara and Saraswathi shrines before visiting the nearby Kousikeswarar temple.
The seer had made a public appearance at the deemed university of Chandra Sekarendra Saraswathi Viswamaha Vidhyalaya at Enathur yesterday where a convocation was held.
He reached the university from Kalavai soon after the convocation speeches and citation ceremonies were over, university sources said.
He blessed the gathering and distributed prasadams to students and parents who were present.
The seer also held a meeting with board members of the university and later returned to Kalavai.
Monday, March 28, 2005
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Charge of involvement in murder not true: Jr Seer
Wednesday, January 19 2005 19:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -
Kancheepuram: The Junior Pontiff of Kanchi Mutt Vijayendra Saraswathi today (Jan 19, 2005) said there was not even one per cent truth in the charge of involvement of the Senior Acharya Jayendra Saraswathi and himself in the murder of the temple official Sankararaman.
"This case has not even one per cent of truth. With the help of God, elders and sages, we will come through this present crisis of bad name and bad times," he told reporters after he was remanded to judicial custody till January 24.
"Stand united and strive for the excellence of the Samaj," he said as he was boarding a police van.
He also addressed the people, who had thronged outside the magistrate court, for the first time since he was arrested on January 10.
He said the youth of India and abroad were all praying and striving hard for the well being of mankind. "All will be well soon by God's grace and these bad times will end," he said while referring to the Sankararaman murder case.
Earlier, after completion of one-day police custody, he was produced before the first class judicial magistrate G Uthamaraj.
Vijayendra's counsel, Y Thygarajan requested the magistrate to order for Ayurvedic treatment to the Seer as he was suffering from pain in the neck. The magistrate asked him to file a petition for this purpose.
Earlier, when Vijayendra started speaking to the lawyers and spectators inside the court hall, the magistrate had to call for order.
Kancheepuram: The Junior Pontiff of Kanchi Mutt Vijayendra Saraswathi today (Jan 19, 2005) said there was not even one per cent truth in the charge of involvement of the Senior Acharya Jayendra Saraswathi and himself in the murder of the temple official Sankararaman.
"This case has not even one per cent of truth. With the help of God, elders and sages, we will come through this present crisis of bad name and bad times," he told reporters after he was remanded to judicial custody till January 24.
"Stand united and strive for the excellence of the Samaj," he said as he was boarding a police van.
He also addressed the people, who had thronged outside the magistrate court, for the first time since he was arrested on January 10.
He said the youth of India and abroad were all praying and striving hard for the well being of mankind. "All will be well soon by God's grace and these bad times will end," he said while referring to the Sankararaman murder case.
Earlier, after completion of one-day police custody, he was produced before the first class judicial magistrate G Uthamaraj.
Vijayendra's counsel, Y Thygarajan requested the magistrate to order for Ayurvedic treatment to the Seer as he was suffering from pain in the neck. The magistrate asked him to file a petition for this purpose.
Earlier, when Vijayendra started speaking to the lawyers and spectators inside the court hall, the magistrate had to call for order.
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Saraswati punished for countering Christian propaganda: RSS
[India News]: Mangalore, Mar 13 : RSS leaders have said that Jayendra Saraswati, has been punished for countering Christian conversion propaganda.
RSS chief KS Sudarshan, has accused the Central government of harassing Jayendra Saraswathi.
Saraswathi, implicated in a series of cases, ranging from money laundering to assaults, was earlier arrested in a case relating to the murder of a temple official, Shankararaman, who incidentally was also a bitter critic of the Seer.
Saraswati ic was granted bail in January, after nearly a month of detention and massive nation wide protests by Hindu groups.
The RSS said that the seer's extensive charity work was increasingly luring India's poor away from Christian missionaries.
"Even now the seer is being harassed and victimized and all this is happening at the behest of the Central government. It is under pressure from Christian missionaries who have been destabilized by Shankaracharya. The number of hospitals, school and charity organisations opened by him came as a boon for the poor people," Sudarshan told thousands of party workers at a conclave in Mangalore. (ANI)
RSS chief KS Sudarshan, has accused the Central government of harassing Jayendra Saraswathi.
Saraswathi, implicated in a series of cases, ranging from money laundering to assaults, was earlier arrested in a case relating to the murder of a temple official, Shankararaman, who incidentally was also a bitter critic of the Seer.
Saraswati ic was granted bail in January, after nearly a month of detention and massive nation wide protests by Hindu groups.
The RSS said that the seer's extensive charity work was increasingly luring India's poor away from Christian missionaries.
"Even now the seer is being harassed and victimized and all this is happening at the behest of the Central government. It is under pressure from Christian missionaries who have been destabilized by Shankaracharya. The number of hospitals, school and charity organisations opened by him came as a boon for the poor people," Sudarshan told thousands of party workers at a conclave in Mangalore. (ANI)
One-day fast on 'malicious' campaign against religious heads
[India News]: Chennai, Mar 12 : Devotees of the two Kanshi seers will observe a one-day fast tomorrow against the "systematic and malicious" campaign against Hindu religious heads, demanding withdrawal of cases against them Kanchi Kamakoti Akila Bharatha Devotees Forum and the VHP women's wing would observe the fast and a a group prayer would also be held, Janata Party Tamil Nadu unit president V S Chandralekha told reporters here today.
Chandralekha alleged that a public disinformation campaign had been mounted against the seers and that "bogus" video clippings and interviews had been published to "discredit them", particularly by a Tamil weekly.
If the state government did not take legal action against the weekly by April 14, "we shall file a private complaint before the court", Chandralekha said.
She alleged that Jayendra Saraswathi's proximity to the Dalits and backward classes had angered some political parties and claimed that the people's anger would be reflected in the assembly polls next year. PTI
Chandralekha alleged that a public disinformation campaign had been mounted against the seers and that "bogus" video clippings and interviews had been published to "discredit them", particularly by a Tamil weekly.
If the state government did not take legal action against the weekly by April 14, "we shall file a private complaint before the court", Chandralekha said.
She alleged that Jayendra Saraswathi's proximity to the Dalits and backward classes had angered some political parties and claimed that the people's anger would be reflected in the assembly polls next year. PTI
High Court Separates Mutt And Kanchi Seer
CHENNAI, INDIA, March 6, 2005: Madras High court has ruled that the Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt is a "separate organization and legal entity by itself," as distinct from the "head" who leads it. Justice K.P. Sivasubramaniam gave the far-reaching ruling while setting aside the special investigation team's recent directive to banks to "freeze" the mutt's bank accounts. The SIT is investigating the Shankar Raman murder case, in which Jayendra Saraswati and his junior Vijayendra Saraswati are the first and the second accused. The court ruled as "illegal" the police directive that froze 183 bank accounts of various institutions under the mutt, bringing its daily activities to a halt. In response to Jayendra Saraswati's challenge of the police order, Justice Sivasubramaniam said the Kanchi mutt "is a religious institution, entitled to constitutional protection, as envisaged under Article 26 of the Indian Constitution." Such institutions "are accepted as institutions/juridical persons..." the judge said. They do not necessarily have to be registered under any act in view of their antiquity and "acceptance to a large section of the members of society as representing their faith," the judge added. The court ruled that the daily activities of the mutt and the money it receives or spends on the activities "can absolutely have no relevance to the offences alleged to have been committed earlier by the head of the mutt or for the investigation into these offences."
Thursday, March 10, 2005
How do you spell hypocrisy? P-R-E-M-K-U-M-A-R
"Kanchi SP's complaint against Gurumurthy"
Chennai, March 9: Kanchipuram District Superintendent of Police, SP Premkumar said that he has filed a complaint against journalist S. Gurumurthy with the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Auditor S. Gurumurthy writes articles in the newspapers from time to time. He wrote some articles regarding the arrest of Jayendra [Swamigal] in the Sankarraman murder case.
In connection with this, Kanchipuram police registered a case against him. Gurumurthy filed a writ petition requesting cancellation of this case in the High Court.
In this regard, Premkumar has filed a response petition in which he [ie Premkumar] said:
"Our intention is not to take revenge on Gurumurthy. He cannot claim special rights since he writes articles for the newspapers [journals]. Gurumurthy, although an auditor, writes articles for newspapers without the permission for the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Opposing that, I have given a complaint in the Delhi Institute of Chartered Accountants against him.
The Constitution gives the freedom to express themselves to everyone. But Gurumurthy is not exempted from actions being taken against him on the basis of Indian Criminal Code sections.
There is wrong publicity spread that I am acting unlawfully in the Sankarraman murder case. The writ petition filed by Gurumurthy should be dismissed," said Premkumar. This case is coming up for hearing on the 14th of this month [ie. March 14].
Chennai, March 9: Kanchipuram District Superintendent of Police, SP Premkumar said that he has filed a complaint against journalist S. Gurumurthy with the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Auditor S. Gurumurthy writes articles in the newspapers from time to time. He wrote some articles regarding the arrest of Jayendra [Swamigal] in the Sankarraman murder case.
In connection with this, Kanchipuram police registered a case against him. Gurumurthy filed a writ petition requesting cancellation of this case in the High Court.
In this regard, Premkumar has filed a response petition in which he [ie Premkumar] said:
"Our intention is not to take revenge on Gurumurthy. He cannot claim special rights since he writes articles for the newspapers [journals]. Gurumurthy, although an auditor, writes articles for newspapers without the permission for the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Opposing that, I have given a complaint in the Delhi Institute of Chartered Accountants against him.
The Constitution gives the freedom to express themselves to everyone. But Gurumurthy is not exempted from actions being taken against him on the basis of Indian Criminal Code sections.
There is wrong publicity spread that I am acting unlawfully in the Sankarraman murder case. The writ petition filed by Gurumurthy should be dismissed," said Premkumar. This case is coming up for hearing on the 14th of this month [ie. March 14].
No connection to Sankaracharya's defense lawyers, says High Court!
Saturday, March5,2005
"Threat Complaint - 'Will not arrest lawyers for now': Prosecutor"
Chennai, March 5: "In connection with the case of threats, the accused turned approver in the Sankararaman murder case, Ravi Subramoniam, (we) will not arrest the Kanchipuram lawyers now", said the Government lawyer in Chennai High Court.
Police have registered a case saying that female lawyers Revathy and Nadira Banu went to Kanchipuram Sub Jail and threatened Ravi Subramoniam.
Kanchipuram lawyer Shanmugam had filed a petition against this asking for CBI investigation into this case.Chennai High Court Justice K.P.Sivasubramoniam heard this petition on Friday.
Senior lawyer Chanduru appeared on behalf of the petitioner. He argued that the police should not register cases like these with the intention of intimidating the lawyers who are doing their duty to defend the accused in this case.
"From the beginning, the police investigation in this case has been antagonistic towards the lawyers. The police have filed this case solely with the intention to intimidate the defence lawyers in the Sankararaman murder case."
Prosecutor K.Doraisamy argued : "[One] cannot say that actions cannot be taken against lawyers only because they are lawyers. Two female lawyers have threatened Ravi Subramoniam in Kanchipuram Sub Jail to retract his statement against Jayendrar. The investigation is still in the beginning stage. In this matter, I will present a detailed counter petition next week."
Following this, the [Honorable] Justice said: "The complaint is given only against the women lawyers, Revathy and Nadira Banu. Ravi Subramoniam has not mentioned the names of their senior lawyers, Shanmugam and Thyagarajan in the complaint. These two senior lawyers appear on behalf of the defendants in the Sankararaman murder case.
It is not evident that there is any connection between the petitioner Shanmugam and the complaint lodged against him by the police. Even the FIR lodged by the police mentions only the names of Revathy and Nadira Banu.
The petitioner considers that the case has been registered solely to intimidate the lawyers who appear on behalf of the defendants in the Sankararaman murder case."
The Prosecutor said that [they] would not arrest the senior lawyers Shanmugam and Thyagarajan for now. His statement is being recorded[ Translator's note: could be "registered"] in the court.The hearing is being adjourned to March 11th in order to allow [the Prosecutor] to lodge his counter petition, said the Judge.
"Threat Complaint - 'Will not arrest lawyers for now': Prosecutor"
Chennai, March 5: "In connection with the case of threats, the accused turned approver in the Sankararaman murder case, Ravi Subramoniam, (we) will not arrest the Kanchipuram lawyers now", said the Government lawyer in Chennai High Court.
Police have registered a case saying that female lawyers Revathy and Nadira Banu went to Kanchipuram Sub Jail and threatened Ravi Subramoniam.
Kanchipuram lawyer Shanmugam had filed a petition against this asking for CBI investigation into this case.Chennai High Court Justice K.P.Sivasubramoniam heard this petition on Friday.
Senior lawyer Chanduru appeared on behalf of the petitioner. He argued that the police should not register cases like these with the intention of intimidating the lawyers who are doing their duty to defend the accused in this case.
"From the beginning, the police investigation in this case has been antagonistic towards the lawyers. The police have filed this case solely with the intention to intimidate the defence lawyers in the Sankararaman murder case."
Prosecutor K.Doraisamy argued : "[One] cannot say that actions cannot be taken against lawyers only because they are lawyers. Two female lawyers have threatened Ravi Subramoniam in Kanchipuram Sub Jail to retract his statement against Jayendrar. The investigation is still in the beginning stage. In this matter, I will present a detailed counter petition next week."
Following this, the [Honorable] Justice said: "The complaint is given only against the women lawyers, Revathy and Nadira Banu. Ravi Subramoniam has not mentioned the names of their senior lawyers, Shanmugam and Thyagarajan in the complaint. These two senior lawyers appear on behalf of the defendants in the Sankararaman murder case.
It is not evident that there is any connection between the petitioner Shanmugam and the complaint lodged against him by the police. Even the FIR lodged by the police mentions only the names of Revathy and Nadira Banu.
The petitioner considers that the case has been registered solely to intimidate the lawyers who appear on behalf of the defendants in the Sankararaman murder case."
The Prosecutor said that [they] would not arrest the senior lawyers Shanmugam and Thyagarajan for now. His statement is being recorded[ Translator's note: could be "registered"] in the court.The hearing is being adjourned to March 11th in order to allow [the Prosecutor] to lodge his counter petition, said the Judge.
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Why is the Indian media anti-Hindu?
By Manmath Deshpande
It is no secret that the media has a large anti-Hindu bias. But anyone who watched the TV channels’ coverage of the Kanchi Shankaracharya’s arrest will be disgusted at even knowing its behaviour. Star News channel held him guilty indirectly for two months and directly on January 12. It showed a video saying, “We had said a few days earlier that he confessed. Then, charges were made that we told lies. Now you can see we are telling the truth. He is crying, you can clearly see phoot phoot ke ro rahe hein.” On seeing the video it was clear that he was not crying at all and it only proved that the charges on it were true!
But what is sad and disappointing is the reaction of the Hindu leadership.
The channel should not be allowed to spread such ‘white lies’ that he has confessed.We should have blasted the channel and filed a petition for banning it in the courts and also urged the I&B Ministry to take action. But we did nothing of the sort.
The NDTV channel owned as it is by a communist like Prannoy Roy with Leftists running it, is horribly anti-Hindu. It causes tremendous damage to Hindu organisations. Already because of it, the word ‘Ramjanmabhoomi’ is becoming a joke among people, who say “Talk about ‘real issues’.” NDTV reports are biased and often spread white lies. TV debates are always designed to provoke Hindu nationalists, who are invariably less in number than the pseudo-secularists. The Hindus are also only from BJP which being a political party has to take a diluted stand on many occasions. What is astonishing is that the BJP workers do not blast TV channels. They never ask, “Why do you put two against one or three against one?”
Making the channels lose their credibilty is the only way to save Hindu nationalists. Why don’t BJP leaders come on TV and do it? Either the Hindu leadership does not know the harm that is caused by the channels or it is incapable of meeting the challenges.
The BJP's Hindu credentials are also suspect, since the party had passed a Chennai declaration in 1999 saying goodbye to all Hindutva issues forever. It is only because of the Hindu organisations’ pressures that the party is taking some Hindu issues.
Channels like NDTV never invite VHP leaders on TV because it knows exactly that VHP leaders argue very well. VHP can also take a much firmer line. Is not VHP an organisation important enough to be invited? The reason is that both the journalists cannot argue well and have to take a moderate position. VHP leaders like Surendra Jain bring fanatic Muslims like Aziz Burney to their knees on SubTV. They will do the same on NDTV.
Mental bankruptcy is an integral part of the media. Many newspapers like the Times of India even wrote editorials supporting Pakistan’s decision of boycotting Ahmedabad! Even in its counterview when the Times supported it, it was to “teach the Sangh Parivar a lesson” that the match should be played in Gujarat. The media which likes Pakistan more than Hindu nationalists should be blasted and asked to go to Pakistan. Opposing every view of the Hindu nationalists has become the habit of the media. Tomorrow they will say 2+2=5 and not 4 because the Sangh Parivar says it is 4! The Times of India is most bankrupt in its views.
When Governors were dismissed, all the newspapers showed some maturity except for the Times which supported the decision!
It is time we (Hindu nationalists) stopped blaming the media for everything and started taking a part of the blame on ourselves. We have failed to tame the media; we suffer because of it. We lack aggressiveness, assertiveness and the self-confidence needed to tame the media and only VHP has it. It is essential to tame the media or else it might be too late. Do we understand the need to do so? Or are we miles away from the ground?
(Contact author at ‘Anand-Vilas’, Chitale Road, Dhantoli, Nagpur-440012.)
It is no secret that the media has a large anti-Hindu bias. But anyone who watched the TV channels’ coverage of the Kanchi Shankaracharya’s arrest will be disgusted at even knowing its behaviour. Star News channel held him guilty indirectly for two months and directly on January 12. It showed a video saying, “We had said a few days earlier that he confessed. Then, charges were made that we told lies. Now you can see we are telling the truth. He is crying, you can clearly see phoot phoot ke ro rahe hein.” On seeing the video it was clear that he was not crying at all and it only proved that the charges on it were true!
But what is sad and disappointing is the reaction of the Hindu leadership.
The channel should not be allowed to spread such ‘white lies’ that he has confessed.We should have blasted the channel and filed a petition for banning it in the courts and also urged the I&B Ministry to take action. But we did nothing of the sort.
The NDTV channel owned as it is by a communist like Prannoy Roy with Leftists running it, is horribly anti-Hindu. It causes tremendous damage to Hindu organisations. Already because of it, the word ‘Ramjanmabhoomi’ is becoming a joke among people, who say “Talk about ‘real issues’.” NDTV reports are biased and often spread white lies. TV debates are always designed to provoke Hindu nationalists, who are invariably less in number than the pseudo-secularists. The Hindus are also only from BJP which being a political party has to take a diluted stand on many occasions. What is astonishing is that the BJP workers do not blast TV channels. They never ask, “Why do you put two against one or three against one?”
Making the channels lose their credibilty is the only way to save Hindu nationalists. Why don’t BJP leaders come on TV and do it? Either the Hindu leadership does not know the harm that is caused by the channels or it is incapable of meeting the challenges.
The BJP's Hindu credentials are also suspect, since the party had passed a Chennai declaration in 1999 saying goodbye to all Hindutva issues forever. It is only because of the Hindu organisations’ pressures that the party is taking some Hindu issues.
Channels like NDTV never invite VHP leaders on TV because it knows exactly that VHP leaders argue very well. VHP can also take a much firmer line. Is not VHP an organisation important enough to be invited? The reason is that both the journalists cannot argue well and have to take a moderate position. VHP leaders like Surendra Jain bring fanatic Muslims like Aziz Burney to their knees on SubTV. They will do the same on NDTV.
Mental bankruptcy is an integral part of the media. Many newspapers like the Times of India even wrote editorials supporting Pakistan’s decision of boycotting Ahmedabad! Even in its counterview when the Times supported it, it was to “teach the Sangh Parivar a lesson” that the match should be played in Gujarat. The media which likes Pakistan more than Hindu nationalists should be blasted and asked to go to Pakistan. Opposing every view of the Hindu nationalists has become the habit of the media. Tomorrow they will say 2+2=5 and not 4 because the Sangh Parivar says it is 4! The Times of India is most bankrupt in its views.
When Governors were dismissed, all the newspapers showed some maturity except for the Times which supported the decision!
It is time we (Hindu nationalists) stopped blaming the media for everything and started taking a part of the blame on ourselves. We have failed to tame the media; we suffer because of it. We lack aggressiveness, assertiveness and the self-confidence needed to tame the media and only VHP has it. It is essential to tame the media or else it might be too late. Do we understand the need to do so? Or are we miles away from the ground?
(Contact author at ‘Anand-Vilas’, Chitale Road, Dhantoli, Nagpur-440012.)
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