• Friday, March 29, 2024

INDIA

Chhattisgarh: Cops move against Hindu religious leader for insulting Gandhi

Representational Image (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

By: Shubham Ghosh

HINDU religious leader Kalicharan Maharaj has faced flak over making offensive remarks against Mahatma Gandhi and lauding his assassin Nathuram Godse. According to one official, the police in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh has registered a first information report (FIR) against Maharaj on allegations of promoting enmity between classes.

The religious leader reportedly used an abusive word against the iconic freedom fighter during the conclusion of a two-day ‘dharma sansad’ (religious parliament) in Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, on Sunday (26) evening. He also asked people to elect a staunch Hindu leader as the head of the government in order to protect India’s majority religion.

During the event, Kalicharan said, “The target of Islam is to capture nation through politics. In front of our eyes they had captured in 1947 (referring to partition) …They had earlier captured Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan. They captured Bangladesh and Pakistan through politics…I salute Nathuram Godse that he killed Gandhi.”

His statement was slammed by leaders of the state’s ruling Indian National Congress.

“Based on the complaint of Congress leader Pramod Dubey, a case was registered against Kalicharan on Sunday night at Tikrapara police station under Indian Penal Code sections 505 (2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) and 294 (obscene acts),” the Press Trust of India quoted a police officer as saying.

He said more investigation was underway into the case.

Chhattisgarh state Congress’s communication wing head Sushil Anand Shukla condemned Maharaj’s statement saying, “The use of abusive words against Mahatma Gandhi is highly objectionable. Kalicharan should first prove that he is a saint.”

Maharaj’s remarks also drew flak in his home state Maharashtra where the legislative assembly was rocked by the issue.

The state’s deputy chief minister, Ajit Pawar, said strong action will be taken against Maharaj after ruling partners – Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party and Indian National Congress voiced concerns.

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