Mangalore: Mariamma Temple Incident – VHP Tenders Apology
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Jun 24: On behalf of Bajrang Dal, divisional president of Vishwa Hindu Parishat, M B Puranik, tendered an unconditional apology to the Mogaveera community for the pain caused to them due to the incident in which some Bajrang Dal activists had entered into a verbal spat with some members of the Mogaveera community relating to Urwa Mariamma Temple dispute. He said that the activists of the Dal had become emotional, unaware of the relationship Urwa Mariamma Temple had with the disputed Nagabana site near it. He termed the differences of opinion that arose because of the above incident, as unfortunate. Vishwa Hindu Parishat appears to have been thoroughly embarrassed at the unwarranted intervention of Bajrang Dal into the issue involving land located adjacent to Urwa Mariamma Temple in the city.
Speaking at a press conference held here on Wednesday June 23, Puranik hailed Mogaveera community to be a major force within the Hindu society. “Hundreds of volunteers from this community have become activists of Bajrang Dal. If the Mogaveera community is hurt by the words used by a few of the activists from among the Bajrang Dal volunteers, the community should pardon them,” he requested.
In the meantime, he felt that the Bajrang Dal activists had not collected full facts before reacting to the said incident. "Both Bajrang Dal and VHP are ever prepared to deal with issues relating to Hindu religious beliefs, practices and institutions. The Bajrang Dal activists seem to have been overcome by emotions in the above issue. The VHP leadership was not aware of the development. The concerned should have exercised a sense of judgment and discretion. Our leaders will meet the Mogaveera community leaders at Mariamma Temple on Thursday. We believe in uniting Hindus, not dividing them," he added.
In the meantime, Jagadish Shenava, advocate, who also happens to be the vice president of the local VHP, said that Bajrang Dal will withdraw complaints filed by its activists in the Urwa police station against some members of the temple management.