I never said that the Constitution should be changed, says Pejawar seer

The seer of Udupi Pejawar Mutt Vishwaprasanna Tirtha, who is also the trustee of Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Theerth Kshetra Trust, has stressed that he never said that the Indian Constitution should be changed. Speaking to presspersons in Udupi on Sunday, he said that he respected the Constitution and its spirit.

The seer of Udupi Pejawar Mutt Vishwaprasanna Tirtha, who is also the trustee of Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Theerth Kshetra Trust, has stressed that he never said that the Indian Constitution should be changed. Speaking to presspersons in Udupi on Sunday, he said that he respected the Constitution and its spirit.

The seer said that his recent remarks on the Constitution made at the Saints’ conference’, organised by Vishwa Hindu Parishad, in Bengaluru on November 23 were misquoted by some media.

Speaking at the conference, the seer reportedly demanded a Constitution that would honour the interest of majority people. Reacting to this, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said in Bengaluru on November 26 that those opposing the Constitution are speaking of changing it, while his government and the Congress are fighting to safeguard it. On the sidelines of an event to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution, the CM had said: “Those who are against the Constitution are telling us to change it. Recently, the swami of the Pejawar Mutt in Udupi also spoke about the need for amending the Constitution. We are fighting to ensure that the Constitution should not be changed.”

Speaking to mediapersons in Udupi on Sunday, the seer said that media should refrain from spreading misinformation and added that the CM’s reaction created all the confusion. ‘‘Being in the seat of Chief Minister, Mr. Siddaramaiah should have made a responsible statement,” the seer said.

The swami said that the saints handed over a memorandum to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot after the conference. It contained resolutions passed at the conference. There was no mention of the Constitution. “Mr. Siddaramaiah should have verified the statement given by me before commenting against me,” the swami said.

The seer said that he is being targeted by a section of people for speaking in support of Hindus. ‘‘They may be thinking of curbing my voice. Nobody can curtail the voice of Hindus,” he said. The appeasement of minorities should stop, he said adding that the governments should be inclusive ones.