Mangaluru:: A generational shift in taking forward the cause of Hindutva clearly came to the fore at the Bruhat Hindu Samajotsava organized to commemorate the golden jubilee celebration of Vishwa Hindu Parishad here on Sunday. If octogenarian Vishvesha Thirtha Swamiji of Pejavar Adhokshaja Mutt and sexagenarian D Veerendra Heggade of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala advocated the middle path, Sadhvi Balika Saraswati was fire and brimstone on core Hindutva issues.

Vishvesha Thirtha swamiji exhorted youth to be the enlightened Arjuna in the Epic who after Lord Krishna's message goes and does his duty on the battlefield. Expressing regret at people who give a call to burn the Gita for its perceived message of inequality and discrimination, the senior seer of the mutt said instead ignorance in the minds of people who make such statements should be burnt. The Gita does not advocate a caste system based on people by their birth, he said.

On the hue and cry over the 'Ghar Wapsi' issue, the seer said he is equally opposed to conversion or reconversion if it is attempted by force. He questioned the dual mindset among a section of the society who do not oppose religious conversion by allurement, but oppose peaceful reconversion or home coming. Noting that no can oppose 'Ghar Wapsi', the seer said, "We will treat all those who return to the fold on par with the rest and not discriminate among them."

Veerendra Heggade said the samajotsava's organized are a pointer to the future of where the Hindu community should go from here. "We must move ahead on the strength of our achievements and fight inherent weaknesses such as substance abuse and addiction and realize our full potential," he said adding the community should show its strength and unity when challenged and not otherwise. The community must move forward on its ability to have positive thinking, he said.

Striking a belligerent note, diametrically opposite to the above, Sadhvi Saraswati said the time has come for the Hindu community to give the detractors who lampoon and criticize the religion and its practices a befitting reply. There are traitors within the community and the nation who time and again challenge the community from the safety of their homes and surroundings, she said, adding the community will take up issues such as Ghar Wapsi and Love Jihad as a challenge.