Pejawar seer Vishweshateertha Swami has threatened to go on an indefinite hunger strike, if activists and “so called” intellectuals lay siege to the Krishna temple, protesting against the practice of ‘pankthi bheda’.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Thursday, the seer said that the agitators, who were part of the ‘Udupi Chalo’ programme held recently in the town, had no business to raise their voice against ‘pankthi bheda’ (separate dining arrangements for different castes). The protest rally was held to condemn the violence in the name of cow vigilance. But, the activists targeted the temple and him, the pontiff said. He said the “so-called thinkers” are creating a rift between the castes within Hinduism.
He said the activists had only one aim - to widen the gap between the upper castes and lower castes as they have forgotten the fact that the strength lies in unity.
Claiming himself to be the first seer to embrace dalits and open the doors to them way back in 1970s, the seer said that the activists have forgotten the sayings of Basavanna who stresses on ‘Linga Deekshe’.
The seer said the land is polluted because of offensive remarks made by the speakers at the rally. He said he was not against the purpose of organising the ‘Udupi Chalo’ rally, but he disagrees with the turn that the rally took, targeting the temple ‘pankthi bheda’.
He said it is the responsibility of the government to give protection to the temple. He invited the activists for peaceful talks. He said that the talks would help arrive at an agreeable solution. Noting that discrimination existed even before the arrival of Brahmins in the country, he said let the intellectuals understand the caste system and the origin of discrimination, before making charges against Brahmins.
The seer added that dalits are treated in an unbiased manner and they are offered food in the mass dining hall like other members of the public at the temple. When dalits and minorities have no problems with him and the temple ritual, why are the activists provoking them, he questioned. It is not the idea of communal harmony, it is “communal disharmony,” he said.