Apr 02, WATFORD, ENGLAND, UK (OBSERVER): The father of a student beaten by the former President of a local temple has been banned from its grounds for a campaign against its leaders and policy.
Mahavidya das, formally Michael Powell, was yesterday ordered to stay away from Bhaktivedanta Manor in Letchmore Heath, for reasons including causing disruption at temple services, “approaching local newspapers to publish negative articles about Bhaktivedanta Manor and its devotees” and his allegations of corruption.
A statement issued by the Temple Council said: “Powell has been asked to leave the temple and not return after an incident last week when he disrupted a wedding at the temple. He shouted at the conducting priest and argued with the brother of the bride, upsetting the bride and their family. The temple considers that such behaviour is not acceptable and has been forced to notify Powell not be allowed to come to the temple until he gives written assurances that we will not cause any future disturbances in the temple.”
Mr. Powell denied any such behaviour and instead accused the temple of attempting to silence his concerns with the way it is run.
Last year, former President of the temple, Gauri das, was found guilty of inflicting “inappropriate and excessive corporal punishment” at a school in India and banned from a position of leadership at the temple for three years.
Mr. Powell says this promise of a ban has not been kept, pointing to Gauri das’ speech at a recent planning hearing and his continued paid work on temple projects. He said: “I’d like to know what I have done wrong. I haven’t beaten children, I have simply asked questions. Questions they do not wish people to hear the answers to.”
He also claimed there were double standards regarding the temple’s criticism of him approaching the press, and informing the RSPCA of the student abuse case during a high-profile campaign against the killing of temple cow, Gangotri.
He said: “They want all the newspapers and publicity to run stories saying “they’ve murdered our cow” but when it’s something negative they try to ban all press.”
Mr. Powell, still a devoted Hare Krishna follower, also criticised the way weddings are conducted at the temple, alleging they were intended as a profit making venture and contrary to the teachings of Hare Krishna founder Swami Prabhupada.
The Temple Council said not one of Mr. Powell’s campaigns, including reporting a breach of Charity Commission laws, was successful in its aims. It denied Gauri das was still working in a position of leadership and has defended the weddings as a right for people to get married in accordance with their faith.
It added that the letter banning Mr. Powell was “a letter we never wanted to write” and invited him back if he stopped his campaigns and protests.
In January, plans for a summer marquee at the temple were refused following residents’ concerns with noise from weddings in previous years. The matter has since been taken to a government inspector on appeal.
Posted by Mahavidya das, Apr 02, LONDON, ENGLAND, UK: No surprises here, let us see what I’ve been up too.
“Your campaign has included, but has not been limited to:
“Reporting ISKCON UK to Her Majesty’s Charity Commission for allegedly breaching UK charity law”
A perfectly legal right,
after asking a simple and straight-forward question and receiving 5 different replies from our ISKCON UK Management.
(Please read the Sorry Saga series)
“Approaching local newspapers to publish negative articles about Bhaktivedanta Manor and its devotees”
Again, perfectly legitimate.
By “devotees”, I am assuming you mean Gauri das, (our very own child abuser), and the management who (contrary to their own ISKCON LAW ) re-employed him without due process.
“Using the Internet to publish these negative articles, and then emailing them to members of the congregation”
Once more, a perfectly legitimate course of action.
“Reporting Bhaktivedanta Manor to the Police Fraud Office about an alleged accounting malpractice”
Once more, a perfectly legal and legitimate action.
For your information,
the allegation was made by one of your very own ISKCON directors.
This case is being handled by Sgt. Bob Wilcox.
I have his details, should you wish to get in touch.
“Reporting to the RSPCA at the height of the Gangotri campaign the details of a high profile ISKCON CPO case”
I sent a package giving MY OWN SON’S testimony, and a public copy of the OFFICIAL CPO REPORT on Gauri das. Any other info was freely available on the Internet. I sent them copies. The hypocrisy of having a child abuser publicly representing ISKCON makes me nauseous. Obviously Bhaktivedanta Manor does not share the sentiment.
“Informing a group of police cadets when they visited Bhaktivedanta Manor, as part of their police training, that the Manor was corrupt.”
You bet. I was asked to talk to them by one of the Bhaktivedanta Manor inmates.
At the time I was busy chanting my rounds in the temple room.
I gave my honest opinion.
I am prepared to back up everything I say with evidence.
“Creating disturbances by accosting devotees in the temple, and often while dozens of guests were present”
Heck, now we are really clutching at straws.
Please elaborate.
“We have attempted in the past multiple times to enter into a positive dialogue. It seems that you do not want to resolve the issues raised by you in an amicable way. Devotees who have tried to attempt a dialogue with you have been disheartened to say the least.”
Interesting concept.
Of the several thousand e-mails sent to the Bhaktivedanta Manor and ISKCON UK management, I have to date received all of one reply.
The one to which I am responding.
The only other instance of any attempt at dialogue instigated by the Manor was when they heard I was going to the Fraud squad. I was asked “how much or what position did I want”.
“That being the case, until we receive a signed letter from you clearly stating that you will not engage in any of the above behaviour listed, or take any antagonistic or aggressive actions against Bhaktivedanta Manor or its devotees, you will, regrettably, no longer be welcome to visit the Bhaktivedanta Manor, either the temple or the grounds.”
However, if you do send to us acceptable written assurances, then we will again welcome you at the temple but if you again start behaving in an unacceptable way then you will be asked to leave and will not be welcome to return until such a time as you have convinced us that your antagonism and aggression is a thing of the past.”
Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada,
Gadadhara Das
Kripamoya Das
Srutidharma Das
Shyamasundara Das
Pranabandhu Das
Er… you conveniently forgot to mention the weddings and undisclosed salaries.
Interesting letter.
Like I have said on other occasions,
One receives better treatment if one is an ISKCON child abuser,
or murderer.
Such is the state of Srila Prabhupada’s institution.
If a vote was cast for the temple presidency of Bhaktivedanta Manor, Mahavidya prabhu would certainly get my vote. He has fully proven himself very worthy of this position. Hare Krishna.
Yogi for temple president….. IT CAN BE DONE!!!!!!