Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Nov 29: As if to hit out at his detractors and critics alike and to provide clarification about allegations levelled against him, Sri Raghaveshwara Bharathi Swamiji of Ramachandrapur Math asserted that no untoward or inauspicious incidents had ever occurred in his Math. He was speaking at the 'commitment convention' organized on Saturday November 28 at National College Grounds, Basavanagudi here.

The Swamiji is at the receiving end of a case of rape filed against him by a former Ram Katha singer attached to the math, and a systematic onslaught launched by his detractors.

"The main aim of perpetrators of conspiracy against me is to wedge a divide between me and my disciples. I hope that those who are spending time maligning me will stop that and do something good and purposeful in their lives. I assure you that I will not allow anything that is detrimental to the traditions of the Math to happen in the Math," he said. "Let us hold hand in hand like mother and child and move ahead, unperturbed by the efforts to malign me and the Math. We have stayed united against the onslaught. We want to know who else are behind this attack on the Math. Truth will prevail at the end. Before coming out clean and prove my innocence, I am prepared to undergo more such litmus tests. I had faced lot of opposition before ascending this seat and continue to do so. Like Lord Shiva, I believe in absorbing poison and working for the welfare of people," he added.

The congregation also expressed strong resentment at the recent statement of former Kannada Sahitya Parishad president, Chandrashekhar Patil (Champa), branding Brahmins as cheaters and giving a call to drive them away. Speaking about this issue, a person named Pramod Hegde called for a widespread discussions on what Champa said and to hit back at the efforts to defame the community.