RAIDS... SEIZES... CASES... HARASSEMENTS...
OPPRESSION ON “VIJAYAVIHAARAM”
for exposing the misdeeds of
“Vijayavihaaram” is a popular Telugu Monthly Magazine.
It has been propagating scientific approach, spirit of enquiry, personality
development & humanism among youth
of Andhra Pradesh. Articles, features & Serials to propogate the great
ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, Ambedkar, Vivekananda & Dayananda Saraswati have
appeared in “Vijayavihaaram”. A serial exposing the misdeeds of Satya Sai Baba
of Puttaparthi has become highly popular in this Magazine. The
serial named, “Eee Buridee Baba Demudela Ayyadu?” (How come this cheater
Baba becomes a God?) has attracted the anger of the most powerful Lobby of Baba
Devotees in Andha Pradesh Government Administration. Magazine has to face
threats from Devotees including death threats to the Editor.
ABOUT JANAHARSHA GROUP
“Vijayavihaaram” is brought out
on behalf of Janaharsha Group.
Janaharsha Group is a group of
companies operating in the fields of Publication, Real Estate & Chit
fund. In addition to its regular
business activity, Janaharsha has
conducted many events to propagate the Great
ideals of “National Unity & Communal Harmony”. In 1997 it has
conducted a Multi lingual poetry recitation programme participated by 33
literary giants from 8 languages. In
1998 it has conducted a “convention on
communal Harmony”. This convention created History by bringing
the spiritual leaders from Hindu,
Muslim, Christian, Buddhist & Sikh religions to one platform.
Janaharsha felicitated the “Heroes of Humanity” i.e. saviors of lives &
properties of fellow beings irrespective of their community in communal
disturbances in 1998 Hyderabad. Every
year Janaharsha gives the prestigious Award named “Janaharsha Mahatma Gandhi
Communal Harmony Award” to a Noble
personality who made contribution to this field. This year this particular Award will be presented to Mrs. Gladis
Stains (widow of late Graham Stains)
HOW THE PROBLEM STARTED ?
“Vijayavihaaram” December month
issue has been released as a special
issue focusing on the Sexual Allegations on Satya Sai Baba. The cover page
itself carried the picture of Baba. In
addition to this there were articles on - miserable living conditions at Afghanistan, critical discussion on R.S.S., News stories on atrocities against Dalits etc. From the day
one of its release this issue become a big hit creating panic in Baba’s lobby.
On 14th December Police Batalions from 4 police stations led by four
police commissioners raided
Vijayavihaaram’s office & seized it. State wide, police seized Vijayavihaaram copies from the Market,
Hawkars & Agents were harassed, at some places even they were
apprehended. Police have taken a composer and an attendee from Magazine’s
office into their custody, kept them in station for 2 days. Harassment
and terrorizing the Magazine’s circulation network is at big
scale through out the state.
On
14th December Police booked a case against the Editor of Vijayavihaaram, Mr. Ramana Murty under sections I.P.C. 153 (B) & 295 (A), charging him
for publishing an objectionable article named
“Dayananda Swamy Bhavalu”. Police claimed that this article is
disturbing communal Harmony.
INSULT TO GREAT “DAYANANDA
SARASWATHI”
Police says that Article named
“Dayananda Swamy Bhavalu” is objectionable & disturbing. In fact it was a
serial named “Maharshi Dayananda Saraswati Bhavalu” aimed to propagate the
ideology of great sage of India -
Dayananda Saraswati.
Dayananda Saraswati is well
known social & Religious reformer, great
preacher of Nationalism, fear
less fighter of caste system & other social evils and was regarded as one
of the Builders of Modern India. Dayananda
greatly influenced our Independence
movement leadership including Mahatma Gandhi and Lokmanya Tilak.
In this particular
serial patriotism, dynamism,
truth seeking spirit, patience, harmony, spirit of enquiry of Great Dayananda
Saraswati were highlited.
Dayananda Saraswati
has earned regards from the followers
of all religions including Islam. Muslims like sayyad Ahmadkhan & peer Md.
Younis appreciated Dayananda’s quest for truth. Vijayavihaaram’s serial was
mainly based on Dayananda Saraswati famous book “Sathyartha Prakasham”. This particular book was written by
Dayananda Saraswati on 1875 i.e. 125 years back. From then onwards it was translated into many of the national
& international languages. More than 10 lakh copies were sold. Still
it is going for reprints and even now fresh copies were available in the
Market. On this particular book neither
there was a ban, nor there was any objection. This book was considered as our national treasure.
Neither Dayananda Saraswathi nor his writings were ever considered as communal.
When police says - that a
particular part of Dayananda Saraswati’s
ideology, writings were
communal & objectionable - we feel that it is an insult to our greatest son
of India.
POLICE HAS DIFFERENT MOTTO
On 14.12.2000 itself our
Vijayavihaaram’s representatives - Mr.
N.S.V. Nageswara Rao, Legal Advisor and Mr. T.N.Murthy, Co-ordinator met the
police, explained them about the
basis of Vijayavihaaram’s serial.
In fact they have shown the police the copies of “Sathyardha Prakasham”.
Vijayavihaaram’s representatives clearly clarified the police - that Dayananda
Saraswati’s writing’s were never considered as communal, that leaders like
Mahatma Gandhi were greatly influenced by Dayananda, that Dayananda never criticised any religion with
prejudice, that he exposed the irrationalities in all religions from his point of view. In Vijayavihaaram’s December
Issue - “Maharshi Dayananda Saraswati Bhavalu” serial’s third and
concluding part was published. In that particular part Dayananda’s
criticism on irrational & illogical
things in Hindu, Muslim and Christian religions, as per his point of view were
briefly explained. In the same issue it was clearly stated that these are
Dayananda’s openions, one can take what ever he feels appropriate and like wise one can reject what ever he feels
inappropriate. It was stated in the
magazine itself that the motto of this serial is to generate the interest in
the minds of the readers about the life and contribution of Dayananda.
Dayananda’s criticism about the irrational elements in Hindu, Muslim and Christian religions were published in
the article. Hence it is inappropriate
to say that article was targeted intentionally against one faith. Dayananda’s commitment against violence & hatred were equally highlighted. Reproduction of the material from the book
“Sathyartha Prakasham” will neither illegal nor objectionable.
Police clearly knows that Vijayavihaaram’s serial is
neither illegal nor objectionable. It is
obvious that their real motto is to protect
Puttaparthi Satya Sai Baba’s misdeeds and crush Vijayavihaaram and its
fight against the same.
REPRESSION INCREASES
AND FIGHT CONTINUES ...
On 14th December police issued a
press release that cases were booked under section I.P.C 153(B) & 295
(A) on the Editor of Vijayavihaaram Mr. T.V.Ramana Murty and Spl.
Police team was formed to arrest the Editor. On the same day police
raided the office of the Magazine, seized the copies.
On Immediate next
day of the police raid i.e. on 15th December “Vijayavihaaram” co-ordinator
T.N.Murty conducted a press meet to expose the invalidity of police propaganda
and to condemn the police oppression. Editor T.V.Ramana Murty’s statements
Demanding the with-drawal of police oppression were circulated at the meet.
Intellectuals, Journalists, Writers & Leaders of the mass organisations participated in this meet and condemned
the police oppression. This press meet was widely covered by the electronic
& print Media. After this press meet (and also as a reply to the press
meet) police inflicted the name of Mr.
T.N.Murty also, in the same case.
On 17th Sunday
solidarity Meeting was being organised at Hyderabad Sundarayya Vignana Kendram
by “Vijayavihaaram Solidarity Commitee”. Renowned poets, writers,
journalists, rationalists, leaders of
mass organisations participated in the meet. ABK Prasad (Renowed journalist),
Yakub (Poet), Ravela Somayya (Socialist), Dharma Rao (Honarary Editor of
“Nadusthunna Charitra” monthly magazine), Dasarathi Ranga charya (Writer,
Freedom fighter), Sandhyavandanam Lakshmi Devi (Aarya Samaj Representative),
N.V.Krishnayya (Ex. M.L.A.), Gowtham (Dalit writer), Sandhya (President,
P.O.W), S.V. Satyanaraayna (Progressive writers association), Subbarao,
Murahari Rao (Rationalists Association), Vikram (Athiest Association), Kesavrao
Jadav (President, P.U.C.L.) are some of the speakers participated in the
solidarity meet. Vijayavihaaram Editor
T.V.Ramana Murty made a surprise appearance in this solidarity meet. The public appearance of the person, whom
police claims that they formed a special team to apprehend, has created
tremendous sensation. Editor
lambasted the police
claims. He revealed that no community
or no minority representative was there behind the police case. As per the F.I.R., it was only the police who filed the complaint against the
Editor, and again it was the police who are investigating the case. As on
date, not a single complaint was
lodged, not a single statement was issued by any minority leader and also not a
single disturbance was occurred. Editor
has issued a new open proposal to the police, challenging to prove their claim.
As per the new proposal -
Vijayavihaaram will temporarily withdraw the “Dayananda Saraswati Bhavalu”
article, Government can submit this article & “Sathyartha Prakasham” book
to the court, court’s decision will be
binding for all the parties, police should withdraw the repression, harassment
& all the cases, meanwhile police should allow the circulation of
“Vijayavihaaram” December month issue without “Dayananda..” article. Editor said - If police are not ready to
accept this proposal, then it can be clearly
confirmed in front of the people
of Andhra Pradesh - that the real intention of the
police is to protect Baba’s
misdeeds and to crush the Magazine which is exposing the same. Naturally
Editor’s bold proposal attracted
Media’s attention. Even though this proposal
was represented to the Home Minister of Andhra Pradesh, for the reasons obvious,
police or non committal to this proposal.
On the same day
“Vijayavihaaram” solidarity committee met the Home Minister Sri Devender Goud
with a memorandum signed by 130 prominent personalities of public life
demanding the withdrawal of cases and lifting the oppression against
Vijayavihaaram.
State wide, from
every nook and corner people and mass organisations are coming out openly
condemning the police conspiracy. People could clearly see the true intentions
of police. In Ananthapuram, the Home district of Satya Sai Baba 22 mass
organisations conducted a press meet to condemn the police oppression on
Vijayavihaaram. They said that the police are trying to suppress
Vijayavihaaram’s campaign of exposing Sai Baba.
International
Humanist, Rationalist associations are coming out openly against police
oppression. Day by day Vijayavihaaram solidarity movement is getting tremendous
momentum.
CONCLUSION
:
- Vijayavihaaram is not at
all against any religion/faith.
Vijayavihaaram stands for spirit of enquiry and freedom of
expression. Vijayavihaaram stands for
harmony, Non violence & truth seeking.
Our conscience is clear. We are transparent. We express our heartfelt regrets, in any case, by misconception
or by misunderstandings,if our endeavor caused any inconvenience to any person.
- Police propaganda &
oppression against Vijayavihaaram is false, unethical, undemocratic & Illegal.
- Propagating the ideologies
of great personalities like Dayananda Saraswati, Vivekananda, Ambedkar &
Gandhi is not a sin.
- Reproduction of
Dayananda’s openion from “Satyartha Prakasham”is neither illegal, nor communal, neither objectionable nor
prejudicial.
- We were targeted by the
police not because of Dayananda’s ideology but for the uncompromising fight against the misdeeds of
Puttaparthi Satya Sai Baba.
- This Illegal Design of the police will be defeated. Vijayavihaaram will continue its fight against
the misdeeds till the end.
- We demand the police to
withdraw the cases and lift the oppression.
- We urge the people to condemn the oppression and harassment. We
urge the people to express the solidarity with the cause of
Vijayavihaaram.
-
For
lifting the illegal, police oppression on Vijayavihaaram.
-
For
the withdrawal of cases against Vijayavihaaram’s Editor T.V.Ramana Murty &
Co-ordinator T.N.Murty.
- Against the attack on press freedom & freedom of expression
T.V. RAMANA MURTY,
Editor,
VIJAYAVIHAARAM.