Sunday Times
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA, July 20, 2003: The Durban High court has heard how the spiritual head of a Hindu movement and his followers were allegedly “taken hostage” by a group of sign-carrying protesters.
The trustees of the Chinmaya Mission of South Africa, based in Chatsworth, asked the court for an urgent decree to prevent 27 members of the movement from assaulting and threatening the head priest, Veejay Muckoon. The trustees also asked the court to prevent the members from interrupting services and prayers conducted by Muckoon and to prohibit them from entering the temple. Judge Achmat Japie turned down the application, saying he did not regard the matter as urgent. Devotees were split into two sides after Muckoon’s predecessor was dismissed last year “for conduct unbecoming of a swami.” Muckoon told the court that while conducting a prayer service recently, a group of people entered the prayer hall carrying signs and shouting slogans. He said they blamed him for the division at the ashram and restrained him from leaving. The local police were called. Sergeant Ramathar said the mob was engaged in peaceful protest and had the right to do so in terms of the Constitution. Raksha Singh, one of the 27 devotees, said that she and a group of followers had gone to the temple to pray and submit a petition “of our vote of no confidence in the management and decisions that were taken by the trustees at certain meetings.” Singh said that, as long-standing members of the temple, “we have a right to express our concerns with regard to decisions that were made.” The matter was adjourned to August.