Sri Ram Sena slams Pejawar seer, asks him to step down from Paryaya Peetha

Mangaluru, Jun 29: The Hindutva hardliners have upped the ante against Sri Vishwesha Teertha, the chief pontiff of Paryaya Pejawar Mutt for hosting an iftar meet at Krishna temple during Ramadan and promoting communal harmony.

In a joint press meet on Thursday Sri Ram  Sena and Hindu Maha Sabha accused the senior pontiff of betraying Hindu activists fighting for Hindutva by feeding Muslims in Krishna Temple and allowing them to offer namaz.

They have demanded the Seer to step down from the Paryaya peetha and hand over power to his next successor. "Age is catching up with the Seer. It's high time for him to retire. He should seek apology with Hindus for his act," they demanded. "This is a political gimmick as elections are round the corner," alleged Praveen Walke, state general secretary of the Sene.

Walke pointed out they are not against Muslim community, but organsing an Iftar get-together without consulting any Hindu leader has hurt their sentiments. "If the seer started organising Iftar decades ago, there wouldn't have communal disharmony among Hindus and Muslims. After the Ram Mandir and Babri Masjid issue, there is a misunderstanding between both the communities," noted Walke.

They also demanded similar gesture from Muslims to foster amity by allowing them inside Mosque for chanting bhajans and insisted Pejwar seer should arrange for it.

Walke termed that seers and religious leaders were responsible for destroying the future young Hindu youths in the name of Hinduism.

Pointing out at the recent Kalladka violence, they said this is the outcome of how Hindu youths are used by religious leaders. Dharmendra, state spokesperson of Hindu Maha Sabha alleged that Iftar inside temple is to score brownie points politically. He said that five years ago when Congress leader Janardhan Poojary celebrated Iftar in Kudroli Temple, BJP condemned and protested but there was silence this time.

Sri Rama Sene will hold protest condemning Sri Vishvesha Teertha organising Iftar in temple, on July 2.