Ravishankar not attending MLA training, says Speaker

Maqsood Maniyar | NT

Bengaluru: Speaker UT Khader on Monday said that selfstyled spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar would not be attending the three-day training programme for 70 first-time MLAs because he is not in the country.

The event is being held at the Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatha (SDM) Naturopathy Clinic in Nelamangala in Bengaluru Rural district. Moreover, academic Gururaj Karajagi would also not be attending the programme, the Speaker told News Trail.

Khader had in the past said that not everyone invited would be able to make it due to prior engagements. There was some discontent within the Congress, Left leaning individuals and sections of civil society over invitations being issued to “right-leaning religious leaders”.

Religious figures being mentioned in the itinerary included Dharmadhikari or administrator of the Dharmasthala temple in Dakshina Kannada, Veerendra Heggade, who is also a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha.

Interestingly, Heggade also owns the venue where the programme is being held. Other religious figures included Brahmakumaris Veena and Bhuvaneshwari. Heggade is slated to speak on Tuesday about “harmony” and “the role of legislators in the formation of a strong India”.

Meanwhile, the itinerary doesn’t assign a topic for the Brahmakumaris to speak about, simply disclosing that they would speak a few “good words”. Some civil society members had questioned the Speaker over inviting “controversial” and “communal” figures.

Meanwhile, there were whispers within the Congress that it was strange that Khader had chosen to invite proHindutva figures like Heggade, Ravishankar and Karajagi.

Congress spokesperson Ramesh Babu had written to the Speaker, stating: “There are many differences of opinion regarding the resource persons selected for the camp and this matter should be re-examined because of the protection of the values of the parliamentary system.”

However, Khader had defended his choice of invitees, declaring that he “honoured everyone” including people across religious and ideological lines.

“We have not withdrawn any invitations,” Khader said, amid rumours that certain speakers had been disinvited.

“He (Ravishankar) is in America. He isn’t coming. There is a lot of WhatsApp news going around,” he added.

The other speakers who would be interacting with the fresh-faced MLAs are Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, former CMs BS Yediyurappa, Veerappa Moily and HD Kumaraswamy and Kannada writer Mohammad Kunhi, among others.