Facing flak over alleged brainwashing of inmates and of forcing some to take to sanyas, Isha Yoga Centre near Coimbatore has found support from about 100 villagers and students of the area, who termed the charges as totally false and done by some 'vested interests.'
They visited the District Collectorate in two batches on Thursday and submitted memoranda to the administration, citing the 'good work' done by the Centre and its founder, Jaggi Vasudev.
The memoranda said 400 families of Gandhi Colony, mostly Dalits, are sending their children to a school run by Isha, "which is providing quality education."
Besides, the villagers were getting good medical aid and also plenty of job opportunities were being provided, it said.
Terming as "totally false" the charges levelled by some 'vested interests' that the Centre was forcing the people to become sanyasins and they were being treated like slaves, they said the Foundation was behind the development, including in providing basic amenities, in the remote area.
The students and children held aloft placards and posters in support of Isha Yoga Centre.
A retired professor had accused the Centre of brainwashing and forcing his two daughters into becoming sanyasins and had filed a Habeas Corpus petition in Madras High Court.
Based on it's directive a three-member team, headed by Principal District Judge, R Pongiappan, had recorded the statement of the two daughters yesterday.
They had reiterated that they were living in the Centre on their volition and not held captive and that no pressure was being exerted on them to continue to stay there.
Somebody might have instigated their parents to file a complaint against the Centre, they had alleged, adding that they presented their views before the inquiry team.
On August 5, Isha Foundation had refuted the charges.
"We would like to clearly state on record that all the above allegations of holding captives, brainwashing, and forcing individuals into sanyas or brahmacharya are absolutely false," the Foundation, running the Centre, had said in a release.