Udupi, Jul 19: Miss India Sini Shetty on Tuesday received a grand felicitation in her hometown of Udupi, organised by Buntara Yane Nadavara Mathr Sangha, Udupi taluk samiti and All Grameena Bunts Sangha.

Addressing the gathering in Tulu after the felicitation, Shetty said she was overwhelmed by the warm welcome, love and affection of the community and public.

She said her grandmother has been her motivation and parents have given wholehearted support to all her wishes. The Bunts community has also been supportive throughout.

Shetty said Miss World crown is her next aim and is preparing for the title. "I will visit Udupi again after that," she said.

Music director Gurukiran, who spoke at the function said Sini Shetty is the pride of India. Many Bunts community actresses from Mangaluru are ruling the glamour world today and getting fame and name as stars, he said, adding he appreciates Shetty's affection for her mother tongue.

Ajith Kumar Rai Maladi, president, Buntara Yane Nadavara Mathr Sangha presided over the programme. Businessman Gurme Suresh Shetty, Sini Shetty's father Innanje Sadanand Shetty, mother Hema Shetty, felicitation committee convener Jayaraj Hegde and others were present.

Earlier in the day, Sini Shetty was accorded a warm welcome in Udupi town and taken in a procession from Jodukatte to Ammanni Rammanni Shetty hall. She also offered prayers at the Siddivinayaka temple.

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Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.

In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.

Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.

In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.

The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.

Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.

It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".

"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.

It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.

Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.

The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.

On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.

Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.