Apna Dal (S) in favour of caste census: Anupriya Patel
Pratapgarh (UP) (PTI): Apna Dal (Sonelal) is in favour of caste census and this issue has been raised in the Parliament, Union Minister Anupriya Patel said on Tuesday, adding authentic data of various castes should be revealed to the country.
Anupriya Patel, who is also Apna Dal (S) national president, said this while talking to reporters after the Sankalp Sabha on Sonelal Patel's death anniversary.
Anupriya Patel, while paying tribute to her father Sonelal Patel, said he was the messiah of the poor, the exploited and the deprived, and her party is following his policies and principles.
There are two MPs of Apnadal (S) at the present.
"Apna Dal has been with the NDA alliance for the last four elections (2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls and 2017 and 2022 Assembly polls) and will remain together in the fifth election also," she said.
Replying to a question, she said, "There has been no discussion with the BJP regarding seat sharing yet. Talks will take place when the time comes," and added that her party is very strong in Pratapgarh.
"The NDA will contest the Lok Sabha elections of 2024 with strength," she added.
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UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
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.
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