One of the most influential religious leaders in Karnataka has given an open invitation to a scholar, who had said he would burn a copy of the Bhagwad Gita recently, to discuss the book.On February 15, writer K S Bhagwan had said in Mysuruthat he would burn a copy of the Bhagwad Gita. He made the remarks during a programme organized by the Mysuru unit of the Association of SC and ST Employees of Central Government Institutions in the context of the demand for making the Gita the national book.When some members of the audience supported his views, Revenue Minister V Srinivas Prasad intervened, after which Bhagwan said: “I have burned the book in my mind, and in future, I will definitely burn it.”Head of the Pejavar Mutt in Udupi district, Vishveshwa Tirtha Swami confirmed that he stood by his remarks reportedly made at a programme in Udupi district. He told The News Minute that he had “issued an open invitation to (Bhagwan) to discuss Rama and the Gita”.“If he wishes, we can discuss Rama’s character, and Krishna’s message, about both of which, he has inadequate knowledge,” the Pejavar seer said.On Thursday, addressing the students of the students at the Palimaru Gurukul the Pejavar seer had said that Bhagwan should not criticise the Gita without reading it properly.Bhagwan had said that the Gita was casteist and that it spoke denigratingly of Dalits and women. More recently, he had also said that Rama was not monogamous.