Udupi: Pejavar Swamiji Temporarily Withdraws Protest – Draws JDS Flak
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Mar 29: MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, Vishwa Hindu Parishat (VHP) regional president, M B Puranik, and some other leaders met Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji of Pejavar Mutt here on Monday March 28, and persuaded him to end his partial fast undertaken in protest against problems created by the power plant of Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL) to the people of Nandikoor and other villages in the district. Bowing to their earnest requests, the Swamiji agreed to temporarily end his fast.
It may be recalled that the Swamiji, after hearing the grievances of the people and visiting the villages affected by the said plant, had announced plan to do away with consumption of food, water and any other eatables for the entire day except in the afternoons. In addition to beginning the fast on March 19, he had written to the Chief Minister (CM) about the problems created by UPCL to the people. The CM had written to him, saying that the matter is engaging the attention of the government, and had requested the Swamiji to end his protest fast.
The Swamiji said that he had decided to withdraw his protest in response to requests made by the CM and the other leaders to end the same. He stated that the leaders who met him on Monday had promised to take over the responsibility of addressing all the environmental-related issues of UPCL within the next 15 days. He said he will resume fasting if there is no progress in the issue by April 15.
Anti UPCL Committee president and former MLA, U R Sabhapaty, and honorary advisor, K P Acharya, also requested the Swamihji to end his fast. However, Udupi district JDS president, Deviprasad Shetty, in a press statement, accused the Swamiji of behaving like a BJP spokesperson. He said that the Swamiji’s act of withdrawing his protest has given rise to several doubts in the minds of the people.
“I have high regards for the Swamiji. But he appears to have undertaken the fast with an eye on gaining publicity. It is ironical that he withdrew his protest immediately after a BJP MP, who does not have any idea about the ground realities of the UPCL, and a VHP leader, requested him to end his fast,” he added. He said that the Swamiji has lost his trustworthiness because of this action. He pledged to continue the struggle to close down UPCL till the objective is met.