Iskcon B'lore willing to discuss disputes with Mumbai unit

Iskcon Bangalore today said it is interested to thrash out 'differences' with Iskcon Mumbai and resolve ownership and property disputes.

"Our offer for peace is always open and that we are ready to discuss the issue at length," International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon Bangalore) President Madhu Pandit Dasa said in statement here. Iskcon Bangalore has invited three representatives of Iskcon Mumbai to visit the centre here to discuss the differences, he said, adding, there was no truth in the Mumbai branch's claim of inviting him for discussion.

Clarifying on the controversy between the centres, he argued that the origin of the dispute was not property related but was related to succession to the 'Acharya Peetha' after the death of the founding Acharya Srila Prabhupada.

He said he was willing to settle all disputes and even accede control over the Bangalore centre if Iskcon Mumbai agreed to follow Srila Prabhupada's teachings, including his direction to appoint 'ritviks' (priests). Dasa alleged that Iskcon Mumbai violated Iskcon Law which prevents devotees from taking part in posthumous ritvik initiation ceremonies.

The Supreme Court in June had asked the counsel appearing for both Bangalore and Mumbai centres to thrash out their differences over property dispute. It allowed Iskcon Bangalore to continue with day-to-day management of the centre but restrained it from taking any policy decisions, including creation of any financial liability.