Mangaluru: Newskarnataka.com has reliably learnt that Dr D Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of temple town, Dharmasthala has been chosen by the top heads of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to preside over the grand valedictory of  RSS’s 25 day long third year Officer Training Camp (OTC) at Nagpur, slated from Nov 27 to Dec 17.

There are four brief training camps offered by the Sangh Parivar to its cadres in order to prepare youngsters for the betterment of Hindutva. The first seven day camp is termed as Initial Training Camp (ITC) and other three are 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year OTC’s.

Interestingly, the information of this development was revealed to Newskarnaka.com by a source close to Dr Heggade and a staunch RSS follower on condition of secrecy of identity. “Dr. Heggade conveyed with pride  to me, the news of this invitation to him, by the RSS  to preside over the valedictory function.”

The source suspected the deep involvement of the Jain lobby in this surprising development. He quoted the name of the BJP President, ‘Amit Shah’ who hails from Jain community, as the influencing factor in the decision.  “Influence of Amit ji in favor of Dr Veerendra Heggade unfortunately forced Sangh Parivar to cozy up with Dr Heggade in exchange for monetary benefits.”

The spiritual head of Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Temple had, in the past, never allowed the RSS to organize Shakhas (Baithaks) in Dharmasthala. In other words, he had always distanced himself from the  Sangh Parivar on the lines of religion, the source told Newskarnataka.com

Reacting to the development, Founder President of the Rashtriya Hindu Jagaran Vedike and former RSS worker Mahesh Shetty Timarodi said Dr Heggade had succumbed to the negative image that had surrounded him since 2012 after the rape case of Sowjanya, and had tried to improve his relationship with largest Hindu outfit, RSS.

It could be recalled that Mahesh Shetty Timarodi spearheaded the campaign against Heggade under the banner  “Justice for Sowjanya.” He flayed the recent move by the RSS and claimed there was a vast difference between the old unit of RSS and new unit of RSS.

When questioned on the Jain lobby, he said there was a prominent Jain lobby that seemed working in favor of Heggade. “When I was working for the Sangh Parivar, Dr Heggade and the whole administration never allowed Bhagavath Dhwaj (RSS flag) inside the gate of Dharmasthala.” The Dharmasthala administration looked down upon RSS foot soldiers, even going  as far as, instructing them to avoid saffron on the religion base. He opined his selection as a president of the valedictory function, was a sad day for staunch Hindu followers.

Another former Bajrang Dal leader Udayshankar said he was upset with this development. He alleged that the Sangh was, since 2014, funded in large measure, by Heggade. “Both Sangh and Heggade have mutual benefits, though he is Jain.” He said that, he left the Dal after learning of these double standards of the RSS.

Though a few current RSS, Dal, and VHP  members did not agree to come on record to comment on this development, they expressed the sentiment that at a personal level they were disappointed by the decision taken by top heads.