Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jan 11: JDS Udupi district president, Deviprasad Shetty, has termed Pejavar Mutt Swamiji Sri Vishweshateertha to end his three-day fast within a day after district in-charge minister, V S Acharya and Chief Minister, D V Sadananda Gowda, impressed upon him to do so as farcial.

Pejavar Swamiji has decided to continue to protest against Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL) although he has given up fast. He says he is not satisfied with the government’s explanation on dropping of two experts and Acharya’s suggestion to appoint any two experts out of four names which may be suggested by the Swamiji. He said he is against commissioning of the second thermal power unit of UPCL unless all environmental issues are addressed, and confirmed he has received the government’s assurance on this count.

Deviprasad Shetty, in a statement, termed Swamiji’s decision as ridiculous and high drama of the current year. He felt that the Swamiji should have stuck to his stand on reappointment of two dropped experts to the committee, and blamed Dr Acharya for behaving as if he is the government. He said that Acharya had behaved undemocratically and that he was wrong in removing two experts from the committee without even consulting environment minister, Krishna Palemar, and Kaup MLA, Lalaji R Mendon.