Soujanya murder case: Dr. Veerendra Heggade breaks silence on allegations

Team Udayavani, Jul 19, 2023, 7:08 PM IST

Belthangady: Rajya Sabha member and Dharmadhikari of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala, Dr. Veerendra Heggade, broke his silence on the issue of the Soujanya rape and murder case, stating that he was the first to demand a thorough investigation into the tragic incident.

Speaking at a meeting of the employees of Sri Kshetra, Dr. Heggade emphasized that the name of Dharmasthala was being misused by those who disapprove of its growth.

Dr. Heggade asserted, “Doing good deeds attracts both love and hatred, and we have faced both. While there may be millions of people who appreciate our work, there are also individuals who harbor jealousy and enmity against us. Nevertheless, we remain steadfast in our commitment to serve.”

Expressing puzzlement over why the name of the Kshetra was being dragged into the matter, he commented, “Their intention is to tarnish our reputation, but we will not be deterred. We will continue to focus on our mission, undeterred by baseless propaganda.”

Dr. Heggade affirmed that he would not be swayed by personal attacks and that his courage would remain unshaken. He urged his staff to be strong and stand united against injustice. “Dharmasthala is resilient, and we will not cooperate with any form of unfairness,” he emphasized.

Responding to the support from his followers, he said, “Our followers are devoted, but I discourage them from taking any extreme measures on our behalf. Instead, we must focus on moving forward and continuing our service to the community.”