Daijiworld Media Network - Moodbidri (SP)
Moodbidri, Mar 16: Sri Muktananda Swamiji, head of Karinje Math, said at a press conference held here that local MLA, Abhayachandra Jain had lied about Karinje temple, despite knowing the truth well. He said that Jain was wrong in falsely claiming that the temple had grabbed government land.
Addressing a press meet here, the Swamiji said that the temple has a total of 6.68 acre of land including land bought from a Christian family and 1.55 acre he inherited from the family before he embraced spirituality. "Construction of temple at a cost of four crore rupees is under way here. The MLA is aware of this. He was not right in publicly telling lies," he stressed. He added that K Amarnath Shetty happens to be the president of the temple renovation committee and that MLA Jain continues to be the honorary president of the committee.
"Politics should not be brought into religion, but politics should imbibe principles of religion. As I am against mixing politics with religion, I never function like an agent or campaigner for any particular party," he explained.
The Swamiji said that in the past, he had noted that Lord Rama and Ravana were equipped with power and refinement, but there were differences in the refinement they got from their families. He said that the MLA wrongly understood what he had said and hence derided the former. He added that if Jain comes to the temple, he will extend a hearty welcome to him. "Asceticism is always nobler than the profession of politics," he added.
To a question whether he will file defamation suit against Jain, Karinje Swamiji said that he has left everything to the Lord. He explained that he had not urged anyone to hold protest on this issue and that he wanted protests to remain non-violent.
Karinje temple renovation committee vice president, Krishnaraja Hegde, temple trust secretary, Sudhakar Nooyi and Shaktiguru Seva Samiti president, Vishwanath Shetty were present at the press conference.
In the meanwhile, Madiwala Sangha has condemned MLA, K Abhayachandra Jain for insulting the Swamiji and addressing him in singular. President of the Sangha, Sujata S, said in a release that the MLA had committed a mistake in wrongly claiming that the Swamiji had encroached upon government land.