Kalicharan Maharaj made an “abusive” reference to Mahatma Gandhi and asked people to elect a staunch Hindu leader as head of the govt.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI/RAIPUR — The Chhattisgarh Police have registered an FIR against Hindu religious leader Kalicharan Maharaj for using derogatory words for the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and hailing Nathuram Godse for murdering him during a speech at dharm sansad held in Raipur on Sunday.
Kalicharan also said that people should elect a staunch Hindu leader to lead the government in a bid to safeguard the religion.
According to reports, Kalicharan Maharaj made an “abusive” reference to Mahatma Gandhi at dharma sansad organised by a group in Chhattisgarh’s capital Raipur drawing criticism from the Congress leaders.
On the complaint of former Raipur Mayor and Congress leader Pramod Dubey, the police registered the FIR under Indian Penal Code sections 505 (2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) and 294 (obscene acts), according to Police sources.
The state government’s action comes in backdrop of the Haridwar event in which hate speeches were made. The event in Raipur was organised at Rawanbhata in which Sant Kalicharan Maharaj is alleged to have used derogatory words for Mahatma Gandhi and justified Nathuram Godse, who killed Gandhi.
Speaking at the conclusion of the event, according to media reports, Kalicharan Maharaj said: “What is our prime duty – to save religion. We should elect a staunch Hindu king (leader) in the government irrespective of any party (he/she) belongs to…
“The women of our houses are very good and civilised and they do not go to vote (in an election). When there will be incidents of gang rape, what will happen to women of your houses (families)…(Mahamurkho) Idiots! I am calling to those who do not go out to vote.”
“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,” he said.
According to Times Now, former Congress MLA and Chhattisgarh Gau Seva Ayog chairman Mahant Ramsundar Das reacted angrily to Kalicharan Maharaj’s comments, saying that such abusive words should not be used against the Father of the Nation, who sacrificed everything for the country’s freedom.
“The purpose with which this event was held has deviated from its path…Mahatma Gandhi, who sacrificed everything for independence, is being described as a traitor. I wanted to ask the organiser why he didn’t raise an objection when such words were being used for the father of the nation,” said Mahant Ramsundar Das at the event.
“I’m sorry, but I’m dissociating myself from this event,” Das said and walked away from the podium.
Rahul Gandhi too tweeted #Gandhiforever and quoted Gandhi that “you cannot imprison my thoughts”.
A similar incident was reported to have taken place in Haridwar during an event held from December 17 to 20. The video clippings were circulated on social media, which said that “Hindus should arm themselves like those seen in Myanmar, every Hindu must pick up weapons and conduct a ‘Safayi Abhiyan’.”
The three-day event was organised by Yati Narasimhanand, a controversial religious leader who has been accused in the past of inciting violence.
— With media inputs
