It has triggered widespread condemnation and protests by residents and leaders of various organisations
Bharati Thirtha Swamiji
CHIKKAMAGALURU: A derogatory comment by a youth against Bharati Thirtha Swamiji of Sringeri Sharada Peeta on Facebook has triggered widespread condemnation and protests by residents and leaders of various organisations in Sringeri demanding immediate arrest of the erring person.
The youth identified as Munna Azhar of Dharwad in his post says, “Hamara Gaon Ka Kuttha Hai Tu” (You are the dog of our village) against the seer. Members of Vishwa Hindu Parishat have a group on Facebook and have a picture of Bharati Thirtha Swamiji for their group. It was VHP leader Pramod Shetty of Sulia in Dakshina Kannada who first took note of the comment against the seer and alerted his counterpart Harish Shetty, who is the Chikkamagaluru district secretary of VHP on Thursday.
Harish Shetty immediately lodged a complaint against the youth at Sringeri police station and around 11.30 pm on Thursday. An FIR was registered. As the news spread, VHP members assembled in front of the Sringeri police station on Friday. Harish Shetty in his complaint sought immediate arrest of the youth besides seeking suitable action against him for making derogatory statements against the seer thereby hurting the sentiments of hundreds of devotees of Sringeri Math. Mr Shetty also gave a deadline to the police to arrest the youth by Monday evening or else VHP would call for Sringeri bandh on Tuesday.
There was condemnation over the FB comment by various associations such as Brahmin Mahasabha, Vokkaliga Sangha, Vishwakarma Sangha, two Masjid Committees of Sringeri among others. Meanwhile, police swung into action and gathered details of the youth. Chikkamagaluru police have taken Munna Azar into custody in Hubballi, sources said. Azar’s FB account says he studied at Karnataka University, Dharwad and resides at Hubballi.
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( Source : deccan chronicle )
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