JSS Secretary Alleges Defamation Campaign Against Dharmasthala

Swift Summary

• Ajit Prasad, Secretary of Janata Shikshana Samiti (JSS), alleged that misleading and provocative statements on social media were part of a conspiracy to defame Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala and the Heggade family.
• At a meeting in Dharwad,he condemned unverified and defamatory content circulated online against Dharmasthala.
• Dharmasthala has a history of 800+ years, contributing to society through mass feeding programs (‘Anna Dasoha’), education (‘Akshara dasoha’), and healthcare.
• D.Veerendra Heggade was highlighted for empowering thousands of women through self-help groups; participants strongly denounced the ongoing online propaganda against him as baseless.
• Y.M Bhajantri described the defamation campaign as temporary, suggesting it would dissipate soon.
• Municipal councillor rajanna Koravi alleged that disruptive societal forces opposed HeggadeS progressive initiatives out of intolerance.
• Suraj Jain posited that certain anti-social groups were behind the smear campaign due to their inability to accept Dharmasthala’s contributions.Mahaveer Upadhye stated defamation under freedom of speech was inappropriate.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The controversy surrounding defamatory statements on social media aimed at shri Kshetra Dharmasthala points to broader issues related to disinformation and it’s impact on institutions with longstanding reputations for societal work in India. with contributions spanning centuries-such as mass feeding, education efforts, healthcare services, and women empowerment-the institution’s reputation is significant both culturally and socially within India.

The accusations raised during this meeting suggest deeper tensions between progressive leaders like D. Veerendra Heggade and forces resistant to change or societal betterment initiatives led by them. While speakers at the Dharwad gathering regard these attacks as conspiratorial or intolerant reactions by disruptive elements, they collectively underline concerns about unchecked misuse of social media platforms for spreading misinformation.

For india this episode reflects growing challenges in ensuring accountability in digital spaces while protecting institutions supporting social welfare from baseless attacks under freedom-of-speech claims-a concern requiring collective vigilance without stifling legitimate criticism.

Link: Published – August 01, 2025 08:04 pm IST