Udupi: Maths doing noble work, should not be controlled by govt - Janardhan Poojary

Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (UM)

Udupi, Jan 29: Congress leader and former union minister Janaradhan Poojary on Tuesday Januarya 28 said the state government should not interfere with the administrationof Maths and religious institutions.

Addressing a press meet at district Congress office here, Poojary said Maths are doing the work expected of a government by providing education and doing various charitable works, and it is wrong on the part of the government to suspect them of indulging in malpractice.

He said that if any Math or religious institution indulges in wrongdoing or corruption, there are laws to deal with it. "Maths and religious institutions are not above the law," he added.

Condemning religious endowment minister Prakash Hukkeri's statement that the government was planning to amend the Religious Endowment Act to bring Maths under its control, he said it would be wrong move that would hurt the sentiments of Math heads as well as the devotees.

He added that even if the High Court has directed the government to look into the affairs of Maths, the government should approach the Supreme Court against the directive.

He pointed out that Maths like Siddhaganga Math in Tumkur and Adichunchanagiri Math are providing education to children and also free food and clothing and Maths are also doing the work of teaching and upholding the culture of the land. "Thousands of students are getting educated because of the Maths, and in fact, the education provided in their institutions is even better than that in government schools," he added.

Expressing confidence that chief minister Siddaramaiah would take steps that is the interest of Maths and religious institutions, he said, "Siddaramaiah is an honest person who takes decisions that are beneficial to people. I am sure he will not take any step that would harm the Maths. In the past too, he has withdrawn certain proposals after taking into consideration the opinions of the people, and I am confident he will do it in this case too."

"The CM should direct the muzrai minister not to take any such step," he added.

Commenting on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Poojary lauded AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi's move to adopt decentralisation process in choosing candidates. "It is an excellent measure. This way, the voice of Congress workers at the grassroots is not only heard but respected too," he said, adding that he was ready to even fight for the success of Rahul Gandhi's move.

On his own chances of getting the ticket from Mangalore, he said that MLAs and party workers are in his support and they had even met the chief minister to urge his nomination. Health minister U T Khadar has submitted a letter to KPCC in his support and other MLAs of others districts too had giving the same in writing, Poojary said.

Harikrishna Bantwal, Harish Kini, M A Gafoor, Sanjeeva Moily and Narasimha Murthy were present.

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