02/19/98 - 1625

The Interest of Ethics and Justice

USA (VNN) - In a recent article on Chakra "Sura: Guilty without Trial?" Umapati Swami writes: "Some have asked why CHAKRA posted Sura Dasa's article "I Did Not Blaspheme" without investigating the charges." and "Is CHAKRA simply defending one of the old boys without looking into the matter? Is it company loyalty?" He further states: "First, VNN printed the accusing letter without any investigation and without giving Sura a chance to reply." and "Therefore, in the interest of ethics and justice, CHAKRA printed Sura's statement of innocence."

Fact is, that Sura's statement "I did not blaspheme" appeared first on Chakra on 02/07/98, before anything regarding this issue was ever posted on VNN.

Because Chakra refused to publish Sadhusanga's official complaint to the GBC/BBT and Sura das accused Sadhusanga das of fabricating the charges, VNN was approached by devotees to publish Sadhusanga's statement on 02/12/98. (5 days after Chakra published Sura's statement)

As usual, on Chakra only one side was allowed to publish a statement. VNN has published statements from both sides:

Sadhusanga's statement submitted to VNN: 02/11/98
Published on VNN: 02/12/98-1595 Formal Complaint To GBC

Sura's statement submitted to VNN: 02/13/98
Published on VNN: 02/13/98-1602 I Did Not Blaspheme

Chakra is accusing VNN of "unethical journalism" although Chakra is the party that does not publish statements from both sides of an issue. This incident further confirms earlier suspicion by many Vaishnavas that Chakra is merely a propaganda tool for the ISKCON GBC and its supporters to defend the status quo. If a sincere devotee with many years of service has a complaint against one of the ISKCON elite, there is no room on Chakra - the self-appointed "Champions of Krishna's Army".

In the meantime other devotees have come forward, supporting some of the claims that Sadhusanga das has made in his complaint to the GBC, which can be found in the VNN Forum: VNN News Talk - "Sura's alleged Statements"

Maybe Sadhusanga das has turned to VNN after he did not get any response from the BBT/GBC leadership regarding his official complaint against one of their own?

To this day VNN has not learned of any official GBC or ISKCON investigation into the allegations made by Sadhusanga das. Should this come as a surprise? The GBC was and is reluctant to investigate allegations made by Srila Prabhupada himself that he was being poisoned.

Chakra closes: "Therefore, in the interest of ethics and justice, CHAKRA printed Sura's statement of innocence."

If Chakra had any interest in ethics or justice they would have printed statements from both sides. But they didn't and they will not.