UDUPI: Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt , who organized an iftar get-together on Saturday inside the Sri Krishna Mutt compound where Muslims prayed and had snacks at the Annabrahma Hall, is facing flak from the hardliners. "This has hurt the Hindu community," said founder of Sri Ram Sene Pramod Muthalik who met the Swamiji about it on Monday.Muthalik said, "It's a shameful act. Pejawar seer is not only Swamiji for Udupi but also leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. While VHP members are fighting to protect every single cow by even sacrificing their lives, the Swamiji has invited cow slaughterers to the Mutt.This is not acceptable."He added, "Political parties are competing with each other to host iftar parties, but when it comes to the Mutt, it is a question of religion and culture. This get-together could be continued by the next swamiji; we will not allow it to happen again. Let swamiji do his friendly overtures, but not in the temple compound. What kind of message is he conveying to cow protectors?" The Sri Ram Sene is planning a statewide bandh on July 2.Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt said, "I have done nothing wrong. It was a simple programme. However, one section of the society has criticized me for creating disharmony . Hinduism always talks about being good with other religions. When Hindusm faced prob lems, we fought to protect it over thousands of years. I did not mean to hurt anyone by organizing the gettogether. It was a gesture of friendship, peace and togetherness."He said no one should make it an issue. "This programme gives a clear picture that the Hindu community wants to live together in peace.Namaz was not done in the temple; it was done in the dining hall. It's their custom to have snacks after namaz and the hall was given for it. They are not the only people who have beef, many Hindus have it too. The Muslim community has stood with Sri Krishna Mutt. They have expressed their solidarity with us during the Udupi Chalo movement and their cooperation during the Paryaya celebrations is commendable. In 1904, a seer was accompanied to the house of Haji Abdullah. There are instances of good relationships with Muslims," he said.When asked about Muthalik's statement that Ganeshotsava and other festivals are not celebrated in a mosque, Swamiji said Muslims have invited him to preach in the mosque and he has also been invited to inaugurate mosques in Bhatkal, Udupi, Kasargod, Mangaluru and other places.CPI(M) district secretary Balakrishna Shetty said: "The iftar get-together is a good sign of friendliness in the society. Muslims from time to time have maintained good relations with Krishna Mutt. If people of all religions live in harmony, we can have a healthy socity.Phaniraj, a social activist said, "Pejawar seer has every right to perform religious activities within his premises. However, he's not just a seer of a sect of Brahmins to organize such fraternal activities (iftar get-together). He's doing it because he wanted to show he's the head of the soft face of the VHP. He wants to project himself as a guardian of minorities; the iftar meet is a political strategy."

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