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Nayanar raps VHP for espousing Sivagiri Mutt liberation

Kerala Chief Minister E K Nayanar today condemned the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's decision to launch a country-wide agitation for the liberation of the Sivagiri Mutt at Varkala from the state government's control and said the decision smacked of its arrogant attitude.

Sharply reacting to the decision of the Marga Darshak Mandal of the VHP, Nayanar asserted in a statement that there was no question of "enlightened Kerala putting up with such arrogance".

The state government had taken over the administration of the Sivagiri Mutt, founded by saint and social reformer Sree Narayana Guru, a year ago in the wake of disputes between rival groups of sanyasins.

Nayanar said the process of holding elections to the mutt's administrative council was being speeded up. The VHP wanted to sabotage the elections as it was aware that once elections were held it would not be able to wrest control of the mutt, he charged.

The arrogant stand of the VHP was that it would approve of only Swamy Prakashananda (a former president of the mutt) and his supporters, whatever be the views of the Sree Narayana supporters, he claimed.

UNI

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