Mangalore: Pejawar Swamiji skips Quran translation release after BD protest
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Feb 2: The activists of Bajrang Dal staged a protest in front of the residence of district Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Pradeep Kumar Kalkura here on Friday February 1, against the participation of Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji of Pejawar Math in the release ceremony of the Kannada translation of the Quran the same evening.
The protest reportedly forced the Swamiji to stay away from the programme. He was slated to release the second edition of the Quran translated into Kannada by Abdussalam Puthige, but in his absence, Dr Ganesh Amin Sankamar, professor, St Aloysius P U College did the honours.
Pressure was reportedly mounted on the Swamiji by Bajrang Dal not to take part in the function at the last minute.
The activists of Bajrang Dal were angry at the fact that the Swamiji had agreed to release the book. Alleging that district Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Pradeep Kumar Kalkura had brought pressure on the Swamiji to agree to take part in the function, they held a protest in front of Kalkura’s residence.
The activists said they were not opposed to the book release function, but that they were opposed to the Swamiji’s participation. They felt it would not be proper for a Hindu religious leader to take part in such a function, as Muslims do not accept what is preached in Bhagawad Gita.
Bajrang Dal district Goraksha Pramukh, Pradeep, Puneet, and Ram Mohan, led the protest.
Clarifying his position, Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji said he decided against taking part in the function, because of concerns about possible law and order problems. “As there was the likelihood of protests being extended to the venue of the function, and chances of disturbances, I decided against my participation. I have high regard and respect for all the religions. It is true that Kalkura had invited me to the function, but at no point of time did he exert any pressure,” he clarified.
Sources said that even Pradeep Kumar Kalkura chose to stay away from the programme for the same reason.