Nithyananda's surrender evokes mixed response at Madurai

Madurai: The surrender of self-styled godman Nithyananda in a magistrate court in Ramanagaram has evoked mixed response in Madurai, where he was anointed as 293rd pontiff of Madurai Aadheenam. Members of Madurai Aadheeenam Retrieval Committee and its organiser M Solaikannan celebrated by breaking 108 coconuts at Vinayaka temple in North Masi Street-South Masi Street junction and also burst crackers.

“We thank Karnataka government for taking action against Nithyananda. We pray that Tamil Nadu government should also take action to retrieve Madurai Aadheenam from him,” Solaikannan told Express. The 292nd pontiff Arunagirinatha Desigar, who appointed Nithyananda as a junior pontiff has not spoken on this issue.

Since morning, a large police contingent was present outside the Madurai Aadheenam when it was heard that the forest department officials would raid the Aadheenam. The Mutt sources said that they have conducted the regular pooja in the Aadheenam. They said that Arunagirinatha Desigar taking rest.

The surrender has evoked mixed response in Madurai, where he was anointed as 293rd pontiff of Madurai Aadheenam.

However, some members of the Aadheenam protection committee organised by Nithyananda’s followers said that cases in Karnataka were false and Nithyananda will emerge innocent. President of Makkal Munnetra Katchi K M Muthuraj,who is a part of the Madurai Aadheenam Retrieval Committee, which is spearheading the agitation against Nithyananda said the surrender was merely an eyewash. “Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda was seen calling him as ‘Nithyananda Swamiji’ on television,” Muthuraj said.

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