Fri Aug 01 14:34:21 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, drawing heavily from the content and presented in a standard news format:

**Headline: Indian Community Leaders Condemn Social Media Defamation Campaign Against Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala and D. Veerendra Heggade**

**HUBBALLI, August 1, 2025 (The Hindu) –** Community leaders in Dharwad, India, have vehemently condemned what they describe as a coordinated social media campaign to defame the revered Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala temple and its Dharmadhikari (administrator), D. Veerendra Heggade.

At a meeting held Friday, Ajit Prasad, Secretary of Janata Shikshana Samiti (JSS), stated that “misleading and provocative statements” circulating online appear to be part of a deliberate conspiracy. He emphasized Dharmasthala’s 800-year history of service to society through initiatives like mass feeding (Anna Dasoha), education programs (Akshara Dasoha), and medical services.

Prasad highlighted the contributions of D. Veerendra Heggade, who he described as a “guiding light” for thousands of women through self-help groups. He and others present at the meeting expressed outrage that such a figure and institution were being targeted.

Y.M. Bhajantri asserted that Heggade’s and Dharmasthala’s contributions are globally recognized and predicted that the “temporary” defamation campaign would soon end. Municipal councillor Rajanna Koravi attributed the campaign to “disruptive forces” envious of Heggade’s progressive and socially beneficial work.

Suraj Jain echoed this sentiment, calling the campaign a “conspiracy” by intolerant anti-social groups unable to accept Dharmasthala’s positive impact. Mahaveer Upadhye, Principal of JSS ITI College, cautioned against using freedom of speech as a guise for defamation.

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