The Hindu : Karnataka News : Math heads decry treatment meted out to Kanchi seer

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 25, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Math heads decry treatment meted out to Kanchi seer

By Our Staff Reporter

Religious leaders gathered for a meeting at Sringeri Shankar Math in Bangalore on Wednesday to discuss the arrest of Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Sarawathi. Seen are (from left) Vishvesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Math; Sri Ravi Shankar of Art of Living; Shivarathrishwara Deshikendra Swamiji of Suttur Math; Balagangadharanatha Swamiji of Adichunchanagiri Math; Valukeshwara Bharathi Swamiji of Sringeri Shankara Math; and Shivamurthy Shivacharya Swamiji of Taralabalu Math. — Photo: V . Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE, NOV. 24. The mathadipathis of prominent maths in Karnataka on Wednesday urged the Tamil Nadu Government to treat the jailed Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, with respect and provide him facilities for carrying out his daily religious duties.

Briefing presspersons after a meeting of the heads of various maths held at the Sringeri Shankar Math here, Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Math said the Tamil Nadu Government should also arrange for the Kanchi seer's bail.

While people accused in criminal cases were in power, the Kanchi swamiji was being treated like a criminal and was deprived of basic facilities to carry out his religious duties, he said. The swamijis decided to support the peace march that would be held here in a couple of days by Sri Jayendra Saraswathi's disciples, he said.

`Not against arrest'

Shivamurthy Shivacharya Swamiji of Taralabalu Math said the pontiffs were not against the arrest of Jayendra Saraswathi but were protesting the ill-treatment meted out to him. "He is being treated as if he has a long criminal history. He could have been kept under house arrest at the Kanchi Math itself."

He said swamijis were not above the law and they too would uphold the law and the Constitution. "We are not demanding any concession for the Kanchi seer. If he is convicted, he should be treated like any other convict. If he is acquitted, will it be possible to bring back the reputation of the swamiji that has been damaged?" he asked.

The Taralubalu Math seer said that unlike the former Union Minister, Shibu Soren, who had gone into hiding after an arrest warrant was issued against him, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi had not evaded arrest and had subjected himself to the legal process.

He said the circumstances under which Jayendra Saraswathi was arrested had created doubts in the minds of the swamijis that "some politics" was involved in the issue. "Law should prevail and not politics," he remarked.

Balagangadharanath Swamiji of Adichunchanagiri Math said the courts and the Tamil Nadu Government should treat the arrested seer with "due respect." Shivarathrishwara Deshikendra Swamiji of the Suttur Math said the Tamil Nadu Government had acted with "some prejudice."

Sri Ravishankar of the Art of Living; Vignana Tirtha Swamiji of Sripadaraj Math, Mulbagal; Valukeshwara Bharathi Swamiji of Sringeri Shankar Math, Koodli; Vidyadeesha Tirtha Swamiji of Palimar Math, Udupi; Shivapuri Swamiji of Kailasa Ashram, Omkar Hills; Nityananda Swamigal of Dhyanapeetam; Dayananda Saraswathi and Rishi Prabhakar were among those who attended the meeting. The representatives of Sringeri Shankar Math and Swarnavalli Math were present.

Lawyers protest

It was all black coats and banners around the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Bangalore on Wednesday morning. A group of lawyers belonging to the Federation of Bar Associations in Karnataka and the Akhila Karnataka Young Lawyers' Association held a demonstration protesting the arrest of Jayendra Saraswathi and the manner in which he was treated.

The president of the federation, K.N. Subba Reddy, said: "The arrest has hurt the sentiments of people across the nation. Tamil Nadu being the home of the Dravidian movement, the Government in that State has been targeting the supremacy of religious orders. The issue has begun to divide the people and may snowball into a national crisis."

"To prevent further damage to the nation and the sentiments of the people, the trial of Kanchi Sankaracharya should be held outside Tamil Nadu," Mr. Reddy said in an appeal to the Chief Justice of India.

`Devotees hurt'

Our Bidar Staff Correspondent reports

The way the Tamil Nadu police treated Jayendra Saraswati had hurt the sentiments of devotees in the country, the Kashi Math seer, Chandrashekara Shivacharya Swamiji, said on Tuesday.

Speaking to presspersons at Tadola village in Basavakalyan taluk, the swamiji felt the people would never forgive this act of the Tamil Nadu government. It was true that everyone was equal before the law but it was wrong to treat heads of reputed maths and ordinary criminals in the same way. Respected swamijis should not be suspected. The Union and State government should ensure that such incidents did not recur, the swamiji said.

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