Swami says not guilty on Net

Express News Service
First Published : 12 Mar 2010 06:08:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 12 Mar 2010 08:16:14 AM IST

BANGALORE: Nithyananda Swami has made an online appearance once again. This time allegedly from Varanasi. He claims innocence and says that he has been framed by those who are jealous of his success. However, like the previous press meet organised by his associates back home in Bidadi, even Nithyananda Swami makes no reference to the scandalous video making the rounds.
A ticker follows saying, “Swami will be back from Kumbh Mela soon. He will address a press meet”.
Talking to the Swami in the online video is Rajiv Malhotra, a philanthropist and researcher from the US. Claiming to be hurt by the media representation about the Swami, Rajiv flew to Varanasi to get the Swami’s view about the allegations. “As I have known you after attending the 21-day inner awakening session, I came down to speak to you about the allegations,” he tells the Swami.
However all through the session, neither does Malhotra make any comments about the video, nor does the Swami speak about it.
“I will put up all legal documents on the Internet to maintain transparency,” the Swami says. On the alleged encroachment of land, he says, “The land was donated by the three children of philanthropist Sajjan Rao. They are ardent devotees. They used to perform poojas to the Banyan tree and the Shivaling at the Bidadi ashram”.
Due to this spiritual connection, Vinayak Rao, Prathap Rao and Jeevan Rao donated the land in 2003, he says.
He even refuted the allegations of the mysterious deaths and people being held captive in the ashram. “Anybody can come inside the ashram, which anyhow has no security. There are no restricted areas either. Students have been enrolled in the ashram after their parents gave consent,” he says in the video.
"Things have taken a new twist after allegations were made against me. There are several sandalwood trees growing naturally in the ashram.
Some thieves have tried to cut the trees and take them away. They took away the trunks, while small pieces were left behind. We even approached the forest department regarding this. They said this was a small issue which need not be recorded.
But later they raided the ashram and cases were registered,” he says.

Dear Swami Nithyanandaji, The question the world wants to ask you is very simple. Were you the one in close contact with a woman in the video that was widely shown on TV and in the internet? A yes or no answer is required. If yes, you would have to justify your act and those who buy your explanation would naturally continue to be your disciples and that would be the end of the matter. If your answer is no, then the onus is on those who accuse you of proving themselves in a court of law, for you would naturally be slapping charges against them.

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