Pontiff alleges life threat from six Veereshwar Punyashrama office bearers

Gadag: Kallayyajja, pontiff of Veereshwar Punyashrama, Wednesday alleged that he is facing a threat to his life from six office-bearers of the ashrama and said he will file a police complaint soon.Speaking to reporters, he made the allegation amid the controversy surrounding the chariot festival (Rathotsava). “Members of the sole trust committee — Itagi Veerabhadrappa, Prakash Basarigidda, Vasantagouda Police Patil — as well as members of the education committee SM Goudra, Chakrannavar, and Mallayya Shirolamath, may attack me at any moment,” he said.He added, “Ashram had a debt of Rs 50 lakh when he assumed charge as the head of the ashram.

Now, the debt has been cleared, and approximately Rs 4 crore has been deposited in the bank.

All accounts and expenditures of the ashram have been managed properly, and every rupee donated has been accounted for.”He alleged that one of the trustees demanded Rs 10 lakh. “However, we refused to give the ashram’s funds, and because of that, false allegations were made against us.

For many years, three members of the trust and three members of the educational institution have been mentally harassing me.

We tolerated everything until now, but are now bringing the matter to the attention of the trust committee and devotees through the media.

We would officially file a complaint at the police station soon,” he said.Kallayyajja said Veereshwar Punyashrama is a secular institution where students from all castes and communities study. “The mutt shares a Guru–Shishya relationship with Peersab Koutal, who organises mass marriages at his own expense, and no financial assistance from the ashram has been provided to him.

Koutal is a member of the committee and has been given responsibility for the college to ensure its smooth functioning,” he said.Responding to a recent statement by Hindu organisation leader Raju Khanappanavar, he said it is not right to create unnecessary confusion regarding the Rathotsava. “The festival has been conducted smoothly for years.

The Koutal couple had donated wheels for the chariot.

Accepting donations from devotees is a tradition of the mutt—some offer contributions as acts of devotion, while others donate anonymously.

It is inappropriate to bring caste considerations into the matter of donations,” he said.Veereshwar Punyashrama has been educating thousands of visually challenged and poor students in Gadag through music and general education for over a century.Stay updated with the latest Hubballi news.

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