New Delhi (PTI): Apex child rights body NCPCR has summoned the global senior vice president and country head of Amazon India over alleged funding to All India Mission, an organisation involved in "unlawful practices".

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has warned of legal action if Amazon India country head Amit Agarwal fails to appear before it on November 1.

The commission has alleged that All India Mission is being involved in unlawful practices.

In a letter to Amazon India, the NCPCR said it had requested Amazon India to look into the matter and furnish certain details about All India Mission and other orphanages funded by the company.

"Further, it was requested that you submit an action taken report, within seven days. However, no reply has been received from your good offices in the matter so far," the commission said.

Taking note of it, the NCPCR said it requires senior vice president and country head Amit Agarwal to appear in person before the commission along with the details of the action taken in this matter at 1530 hours on November 1, 2022, to explain the reasons for delay in submission of the report and to inform the commission about the action taken on the complaint sent by it.

On September 16, NCPCR had issued a notice to Amazon India seeking explanation from it for allegedly funding All India Mission.

The child rights body, in the notice, had said it is in receipt of a complaint from NGO Social Justice Forum, Arunachal Pradesh, wherein it has been alleged that All India Mission, an organisation registered in the US and the UK, is involved in "unlawful practices" by "illegally converting children in India".

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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.