© 2000 VNN
|
EDITORIAL September 9, 2000 VNN6230 Comment on this story Answer to Pandava Sena Assertions By Manor Protest Organizer and Participant BY ANANDINI DASI EDITORIAL, Sep 9 (VNN) — The following short account has been written by Anandini dasi, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada who was one of the main figures in arranging the protest outside the gates of Bhaktivedanta Manor, England on Janmastami day. So many incorrect statements were made by the Pandava Sena regarding the events on that day that she feels compelled to inform the world of what truly happened. Having read the Pandava Sena response to the incident at Bhaktivedanta Manor, I feel compelled to say that I am very sorry that they have unknowingly become involved in taking sides on an issue which they have practically admitted to knowing nothing about. It is clear from their article that they believed the issue of the protest was of "continued child abuse" at Bhaktivedanta Manor. Certainly child abuse in a certain context was mentioned in the protest leaflet we were distributing, but it was hardly the main reason for our being there. The reason we had mentioned child abuse was because of a particular behaviour by the management against our children which we believe to be quite emotionally abusive.
Also in the article was the statement "They also alleged that Pandava Sena is banned from the Manor." However, the protest leaflet did not say that the group called Pandava Sena were banned from the Manor. Rather, it said that certain members of the Pandava Sena had been banned from the Manor as a result of accepting initiation from Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja. The Pandava Sena also claimed that the incident couldn't have been too bad since the protesters were still left with banners and leaflets. In response, it must be said that this would not have been the case had a passerby not stopped to help. This man told the youths that if they touched the girl who was sitting on the box of leaflets, he would be an independent eye-witness to the incident. Only at that point did they back off. Only one placard was saved, by a girl who managed to seize it back from one of the men, and then hid in the bushes with it until the police returned. The article also alleges that the incident "was not a temple organised event." Perhaps the temple didn't organise it, but temple managers were certainly right there watching it take place and encouraging the men to do what they did. After the police came back, these same managers denied the incident had taken place and refused to allow them to escort any of the protesters onto the property in order to indentify the men who had attacked us. Personally, I doubt very much that any members of the Pandava Sena knew anything of why the protest took place. When one the men was trying to tear leaflets away from two of the girls, they were telling the man that he shouldn't be doing this. His retort was "You shouldn't be doing this!" Then in all seriousness he went on: "You should be in the temple praying!" The girls incredulously replied, "That's just the point! We're not allowed in the temple! What do you think we're doing here??" It seems that their aggressors did not even realize that we had been banned. The last two paragraphs of the paper particularly show a very dangerous mentality, held in the name of loyalty to Srila Prabhupada: "Individuals have to realise that Hindus can be very passionate about certain things. Distributing inciteful literature on a festival day can easily lead to this kind of backlash. After suffering the same kind of abuse from Muslims and the British for centuries, most Hindus are fed up and will no longer tolerate this kind of blasphemy of their religion. "In conclusion, Pandava Sena would like to add, that contrary to rumour (spread by some unscrupulous persons) Pandava Sena is, and always will be loyal and affiliated absolutley to Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON. We have no interest in Narayan Maharaj or his followers - nor do we care about all the other persons trying to usurp ISKCON, like the ritviks. We would rather keep a great distance from all of these groups and get on with our service. But - if these groups continue to incite, provoke and target our members - then we cannot be held responsible for the independent action of members." I believe that some members of the Pandava Sena are not aware that they were, and are being used by the temple management in order to do things that the temple management wouldn't be able to get away with themselves. Although they claim to be speaking on behalf of Hindus, it is in fact Bhaktivedanta Manor and ISKCON management itself which is inspiring this militant perspective in many of these Indian youths that they are cultivating. Although attempts have been made by some of the more enlightened members of Pandava Sena to inform the rest of the followers of both sides of the dispute, these followers have refused to listen. Instead, they blindly follow what the senior devotees at the Manor tell them. Thus we have a dangerous situation. Comment on this story  Contact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
NEWS DESK | EDITORIALS | TOP |
