Thaindian News

Panaji, April 15 (IANS) Tribals from a South Goa village have asked the district administration to keep tabs on an ashram started by Swami Rajneesh, a disciple of late spiritual guru Bhagwaan Rajneesh, fearing “terrorist activity” at the site. He, however, says it is intended to bring in development for villagers.

In a formal resolution passed at the Barcem-Quedem village panchayat last week, April 10, the villagers have expressed strong opposition to the tony ashram, which envisages a swimming pool, spas, massage centres and a 40-room guest house on its grounds, spread over 45 acres.

The under-construction ashram in Barcem village is founded by Swami Rajneesh, a self-proclaimed follower of the late Pune-based Bhagwaan Rajneesh alias Osho.

“Villagers also demanded that the deputy collector of Quepem, and mamlatdar and police of Quepem, keep a watch on the activities going on in the property purchased by Swami Rajneesh as they have doubts that these may be terrorist activities,” the resolution signed by Barcem-Quedem sarpanch (village head) Dattaram Gaonkar has said.

IANS has a copy of the gram sabha (village council) resolution.

The gram sabha has also resolved that the local village panchayat should not issue any no-objection certificate (NOC) to the ashram project, and claimed the “land belongs to tribals” and was “non-profitable to the villagers’.

Swami Rajneesh, however, has claimed that the project bears in mind the local villagers and will create employment, children’s education, local handicraft development and medical aid for villagers.

“Our development plan will take three years and will depend mostly on your help,” Swami Rajneesh said in a letter received by the panchayat authorities Friday.

“We are also presenting our proposal to Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, the town planning board and Chandrakant Kavlekar (the local legislator), members of the press and relevant government departments for their notice,” Swami Rajneesh said.

Swami Rajneesh had told IANS that he was bringing to Goa the fruits of knowledge and wisdom gleaned from the great master Bhagwaan Ranjeesh, whose disciple he had been for over 30 years.

“This ashram is a free place. I am going to impart the teaching and wisdom of my guru here. But it is all going to be free. I am not going to charge a rupee from anybody, unlike the Koregaon park ashram,” Rajneesh said, referring to the Pune-based ashram started by Bhagwaan Rajneesh.