Mangalore, Feb 1: The chief pontiff of Pejawar Mutt Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swami, who was supposed to release the Kannada translation of Quran, was forced to cancel his programme, after a group of Bajrang Dal activists staged protest in the city demanding that the seer should not participate in the “Muslim event”.
The protesters, who gathered in front of the house of Dakshina Kannada District Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Pradeep Kumar Kalkura, a few hours ahead of the programme, also threatened to intensify their agitation if Swamiji took part in the programme.
“We can't bear our seer releasing Quran. Why should our Swamiji take part in Muslims' event? Let them invite their own religious leaders to such useless programmes,” said one of the protesters.
'The Forum For Humanity' and 'Yuvavahini Kendra Samiti', who jointly organised the programme at Town Hall on Friday evening, had invited the seer to release the book. The seer had reportedly promised to fulfill the request of the organisers.
According to the organisers they had even booked the flight ticket for the seer to come to Mangalore from Raichur via Hyderabad Airport. “All of a sudden we received a message from Swamiji that he is not participating in the programme,” said programme convener Umar U H.
However, in the absence of Pejawar seer Dr Ganesh Amin Sankamar of St. Aloysius Pre University College released 'Kannadadalli Quran Anuvada', translated by Abdussalam Puthige, editor-in-chief of Vartha Bharati Kannaday daily.
Related:
Kannada translation of Quran released in Mangalore
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