Author:
Publication: Deccan Herald
Date: January 27, 2005
URL: http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jan272005/s6.asp
Pejawar Mutt pontiff Vishvesha Theertha
on Tuesday declared that he is ready to sacrifice his life to prevent the
State government from acquiring the Udupi Sri Krishna temple.
Addressing a press conference, the
seer said that a state-wide Hindu agitation would be held if the government
tries to acquire the temple illegally. "It is a question of self-respect
for Hindus and I am ready to sacrifice my life to retain the Krishna temple,"
he added.
He demanded that the government
take an impartial stand on the temple issue. "The government will never
acquire places of worship belonging to Christians or Muslims. It should
also take a similar stand on the Krishna temple issue," he said.
The Supreme Court has stated in
its verdict that though the temple is not a part of the Ashta Mutts, it
is continued to be administered by the Mutts.
A temple managed by any institution
of any denomination (caste or community) is exempted from the Muzrai Act.
The SC had declared the Ashta Mutts as an institution of denomination in
the Shirur Mutt case, he added. The Sri Krishna temple had been declared
as a 'temple' under the Harijan Entry Act of the previous Madras government.
"But it is not a temple as per the Muzrai Act," he argued.
