The Hindu : Seer ready for talks with naxals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 20, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Seer ready for talks with naxals

By Our Correspondent

KAKIANDA, FEB. 19. Paripurnananda Saraswati Swamy, chief of Sree Peetham, here, came out with an offer on Thursday that he was prepared to hold a dialogue with naxalites to bring about a change in their concept and turn their attention to positive thinking. Addressing a press conference at his ashram, he said that he was confident that he would be able to achieve the desired change in naxalites.

He claimed that though naxalites were having a different ideology, he would strive for changing them through spiritualism. He asserted that his offer was made for helping society as a whole. The swamiji said that either the Government or naxals could utilise his services. The swamiji did not agree with the suggestion that seers should live in isolation. "They are also human beings and should identify with society and its needs." He said in olden days saints used to live in parnasalas, which were now changed to concrete structures. On the controversy over construction of maha prakaram and the latest orders of the Chief Minister stalling the construction in deference to the wishes of China Jeer Swamiji in Tirumala, he said that it would be wiser on the part of the Government to convene a meeting of all chief swamijis well versed in agama sastras to decide the matter instead of withholding the construction.

The swamiji was opposed to the "unfortunate Babri Masjid demolition" and said that all those who were responsible for the demolition had not been respecting the Indian tradition.

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