Pejawara Seer’s Muslim driver speaks out his heart, says he has never discriminated
- Pejawara Swamy has had Muslims staff for past 20 years
- Why sudden controversy over holding an Iftar get together at Krishna mutt asks his driver of 20 years, said his driver Arif.
- It was a get together of all religions, held with an intention of unity, say political leaders cutting across party.
- Appreciation poured in from all quarters for the Iftar get together organised by Pejawara Swami.
Follow“I, along with my two elder brothers, have been working for Pejawara Swami’s drivers for the past 20 years. He has never treated us as different. Not that he will not get Hindu drivers or that he wants Muslim drivers. He treats all as equal. On Fridays if he had to go out, he would stop the car and let us go for Namaz.” These are the words of Arif, Pejawara Vishvesha Teertha Swamiji's driver. Arif took the lead to organise the Iftar that Pejawara Swamy gave at the Udupi Krishna mutt. He is also the coordinator of Pejawara Sri Blood Donors Team.
Speaking to Kannada Prabha on Tuesday, Arif expressed deep dissatisfaction about the controversy surrounding the Iftar given by Pejawara Swamy. He said Pejawara Swamy had always believed that praying on one’s knees like Muslims and prostrating on knees like Hindus are but one and the same. Praying to god whether in mosque or in temple mean the same. When such a learned scholar like Pejawara Swamy says that why object to it? When Swamiji asked him to organise an Iftar he was overjoyed, says Arif.
In fact, Swamiji had asked what arrangements were to be made and Arif had said whatever the seer gives they would receive as prasada. But Swamiji had arranged a grand dinner with Chitranna, curd rice, ghee rice. He gave dates to every person to break the fast. “We have seen god in him. For us there is no difference between swamiji and our religious leaders” he said.
Though it was an Iftar get together invitations were sent to all religion people. Swamiji had specifically said that it should be a Sarva Dharma Souharda Koota meaning a harmonious meeting of all religion people. Christians led by Joseph Saldanha, Hindus led by Nityananda Olakadu were present. Congress leaders M A Gafoor, Habeeb Ali, BJP leaders Rakim Uchchila, Suresh Shetty Gurme were present. JD(S) members were also present.
When all religion people were present why connect it to beef asked Arif. The controversy is uncalled for. We have been with swamiji for the past 20 years without any problem. They have blood donors team at Udupi, Karawara, Bhatkala, Sirasi and Padubidri. Of the 600 members, 500 are Muslims. The teams donate blood on Pejawara Swami’s birthday. Till now 1700 people have donated blood.
When there was a gherao of Pejawara Swamy, Muslims stood in his support. In the Krishna Mutt cleaning program 30 Muslims participated. During Laksh Vruksha Abhiyana 300 Muslims joined to distribute 300 plants. When Swamiji’s Pura Pravesha program happened they donated butter-milk to 8000 people. During Ganeshotsav the team distributed juice to 4000 people. During all these everybody knew we were Muslims, why this sudden protest against us, asks Arif, as reported in Kannada Prabha.
Meanwhile, support poured out from all quarters for Pejawara Swami’s Iftar at Krishna mutt. Cutting across party, political leaders expressed their appreciation to the Iftar. MP Prahlad Joshi speaking at a function in Dharwad said Pejawara Swami is always in the forefront to protect Hindu religion and his organising Iftar is a symbol of religious harmony and we welcome it. There is no need to create a controversy about it, he said.
At Shimoga speaking at a press meet Opposition leader K S Eshwarappa said he heartily welcome the act and called Swamiji a “revolutionary Seer”
Speaking at Madikeri MP Pratapa Sinha said by organising a all religion harmonious Iftar Pejawara Swamy has given a call for unity among communities. Do not make attempts to find fault in it, he cautioned. Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa, also welcomed it.
Phalimaru mutt seer Vidyadeesha Teertha speaking at Rayachuru said Pejawara Swami’s initiation is welcome. Former CM H D Kumaraswamy said those who are talking about banning Swami must themselves be outcast from society.
The lone voice of dissent came from Shobha Karandlaje who said respective religions should conduct their activities in their respective religious institutions.
The Hindu Janajagruthi Samiti has called for cleansing the mutt by washing it with Go-Mutra. Mutalic who had said he would hold a protest against Swami on July 2nd has been widely criticised by all sections.
