Amid controversy over her alleged act of holding a saffron flag during the Paryaya Procession, Udupi Deputy Commissioner T K Swaroopa on Wednesday clarified that she attended the event strictly in her official capacity and that her participation had no political intent.
Swaroopa’s clarification comes after the District Congress Committee’s Legal and Human Rights Cell wrote to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, seeking action against her for holding a saffron flag while flagging off the Paryaya Procession on January 18.
In a statement, the deputy commissioner said that at 3 am on January 18, she formally flagged off the Puraprevesh programme of the Swamiji as part of the biennial Paryayotsava celebrations of the Udupi Sri Krishna Math. She stated that her role was in accordance with her responsibilities as the Administrator of the Udupi City Council.
Swaroopa further explained that she also participated in other official events linked to the ceremony, including the civic felicitation of the new Paryaya Swamiji and the Durbar programme held after the Swamiji ascended the Sarvajna Peetha. Emphasising the administrative nature of her involvement, she asserted that there was no politically motivated participation on her part.
The Paryaya or Paryayotsava, held on January 18, marks the ceremonial transfer of ritual and administrative authority of the Udupi Sri Krishna Temple. During the event, Shiroor Matha assumed charge, with Sri Vedavardhana Tirtha Swamiji taking over as the pontiff-administrator of the temple for the 2026–28 term.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
