In the backdrop of high drama at Swami Nithyananda’s Bidadi Dhyanapeetham ashram in the last two days, the state government is preparing to take over the ashram, spread over about 12 acres.
In the backdrop of high drama at Swami Nithyananda’s Bidadi Dhyanapeetham ashram in the last two days, the state government is preparing to take over the ashram, spread over about 12 acres.
Law minister S Suresh Kumar told reporters in Dharwad on Saturday that the government had taken note of a series of incidents related to Dhyanapeetham and would announce its decision on appointing an administrator, to take over the ashram’s affairs, by evening.
“Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda will make an announcement soon on taking over the Bidadi ashram. He had already sought a comprehensive report by the home department. Gowda and home minister R Ashoka will meet and take a call,” Suresh Kumar said.
On Friday, a clash broke out between the swami’s disciples and pro-Kannada activists on the ashram premises and 15 disciples of Nithyananda were taken into custody by the Ramanagara police. Nithyananda has gone into hiding since the incident.
Ramanagara SP Anup Agrawal said that before taking action against Nithyananda, the police have to establish his role. He also said that he, along with deputy commissioner, had visited the ashram on Saturday to take stock of the situation.
Meanwhile, forest minister CP Yogeshwar, who had defended Nithyananda on Saturday morning, saying there is no convincing proof against him, changed his stance by afternoon. Yogeshwar maintained that BJP government would initiate strong action against the ashram.
“I have personally spoken to the chief minister. He had assured me that by next week necessary action will be taken,” he said.
Anti-Nithyananda protests
Protests were staged across the state on Saturday by various organisations, urging the government to arrest Swami Nithyananda. Kannada Navanirmana Vedike activists staged protests in Belgaum, Mysore and other places.
Nidumaamidi Veerabhadra Channamalla Swamiji from Shimoga criticised Nithyananda and said that vicious people were occupying spiritual world. It is painful to see the rise of such swamijis, he added.
Nithyananda clarifies
Meanwhile, Nithyananda spoke through his website and claimed that he was on a tour. “I am away from Bidadi ashram for past one month, after taking over as Madurai Aadheenam. I came to Bangalore just to take care of important work and to clarify matters to the media. I heard about the problems caused in the Bidadi ashram by the anti-social elements, but thanks to the timely intervention of the Bidadi and Ramanagara police, the matters are under control,” he said.
Further, Nithyananda told his disciples that nobody could stop them from doing good work. “I have faith in the divine, and in the law, and in the people of Karnataka. I know for sure that the Karnataka people are not opposing me, only the anti-social elements are doing this for their own vested interests and cheap publicity. We cannot fight lawlessness with lawlessness. We will conquer lawlessness with law. Ultimately we will get justice,” he explained.
Prohibitory orders
The police have clamped prohibitory orders till June 13 in the areas around the Bidadi ashram. Ramnagar court judge V Pushpavathi has granted interim bail for Raghunanadan, an activist of Navanirmana Vedike who had scuffled with Nithyananda’s disciples.
The trouble began when Arathi Rao, a former disciple of Nithyananda, appeared on a private channel and narrated about mental and physical torture she underwent and heaped abuse on the swami. Nithyananda’s followers targeted mediapersons in the press meet called by the swami to clarify on Arathi Rao’s allegations.
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