Udupi: Pejawar seer slams intellectuals, praises VHP

Udupi, Mar 31: Continuing his tirade against intellectuals and rationalists, Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Paryaya Pejawar Mutt has accused them of dividing Hindu society. On the other hand, the seer whole heartedly praised Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and other hardline Hindutva groups.

Speaking after inaugurating the third All India Satsanga Varga' of the VHP at the Rama Vittala Hall, here, on Wednesday, he said that some intellectuals wanted a Hindu society where there are problems between different castes.

Nearly 200 delegates from across the country are participating in the event. Those participating in the Satsanga Varga would be taught devotional songs, slokas from the Bhagwad Gita and moral stories, for the next four days.

The Pejawar seer said that organisations such as the VHP should strive more to reduce the problems and gaps existing between various castes in the Hindu community. The VHP had been working in this direction for the last few decades, he said.

Some people, especially some intellectuals, were needlessly criticising the VHP, which was trying to organise and bring unity in the Hindu community. The way some intellectuals were behaving led one to conclude that they wanted the caste problems to continue in the community, he added.

Sugunendra Tirtha Swami of Puttige Mutt said that Indian culture with its emphasis on family values was way ahead of the western culture. The western culture was materialistic and laid emphasis on immediate happiness, whereas the Indian culture emphasised on peace in the society, he said.

Sapan Mukherjee of Akhil Bharatiya Ekal Vidyalaya, welcomed the gathering. Champat Rai, International General Secretary of VHP, presided over the function.

Vidyavallabha Tirtha Swami of Kaniyur Mutt, Vishwaprasanna Tirtha Swami, junior seer of Pejawar Mutt, Jagannath Sahi, vice- president of the national unit of VHP, Y. Raghavalu, joint general secretary, M.B. Puranik, president of the State unit of VHP, B. Suprasad Shetty, president of the district unit of the VHP, were present.