''I am ahimsavadi,'' says BJP leader accused of threatening Rahul Gandhi
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Thrissur (Kerala)(PTI): BJP leader Printu Mahadevan, accused of making a death threat to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during a TV channel discussion, rejected the allegations on Wednesday, saying he was an 'ahimsavadi' (non-violent person) and had never threatened anyone.
Speaking to reporters here, Mahadevan said he was a teacher and a "non-violent person who had never made provocative statements or issued death threats."
He alleged that his remarks during the television debate on the recent violence in Ladakh were "distorted" by the channel with an "agenda" to defame him and damage his political career.
Mahadevan, who was arrested on Monday night and released on bail after being produced in court, also claimed that the police "hunted" him and intimidated his family by entering his house under the pretext of searching for him.
He said his party had stood by him during this difficult time. "I am speaking out only to clarify my stand and state the facts," he added.
Meanwhile, the opposition Congress-led UDF continued to criticise the ruling CPI(M) for the "delayed action" against the BJP leader, while the Left party hit back, saying the opposition was raising "non-issues" as it had nothing else to say.
At the same time, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the party did not approve of Mahadevan’s remarks and had conveyed the same to him.
"One of our spokespersons said something in anger, in passion, and we told him it was not correct. He has accepted that," Chandrasekhar said.
"Ours is a battle of ideology, of development. We put forward the politics of performance. We do not intend to carry out politics of personal enmity against anyone," he added.
Mahadevan had, during a panel discussion on September 26 about protests in Bangladesh and Nepal, allegedly said that such protests were not possible in India as people here supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He reportedly added that if Rahul Gandhi had similar aspirations, "bullets will pierce his chest".
On September 29, Mahadevan appeared before police along with a few party members and was arrested. He was later released on bail.
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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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