In a blistering attack, Samajwadi Party leader Ashutosh Verma on Thursday condemned the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government for pulling revered saints into partisan conflicts through criminal complaints. The flashpoint is the sexual harassment FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati at Jhunsi police station, prompted by a complaint from Tulsi Kunj’s Ashutosh Brahmachari Maharaj.
‘This administration, self-proclaimed as the protector of saints, is betraying its own rhetoric,’ Verma told IANS. He drew a stark comparison to the SP’s handling of a similar 2013 scandal involving Jagadguru Rambhadracharya.
Rambhadracharya’s Divyang University in Chitrakoot was accused of financial irregularities, including misuse of government funds for room construction and nepotistic appointments. After a three-year probe, charges were filed in 2012. Yet, under SP rule, opposition leader Mata Prasad Pandey and ministers vouched for him. ‘He owned his error; saints shouldn’t face trials,’ they argued. The Chief Minister swiftly withdrew the case.
Verma urged the BJP to emulate this ‘respectful’ precedent rather than ‘dragging holy men into courts.’ Shifting gears, he lauded Mamata Banerjee’s compassionate policy in West Bengal, providing jobs to kin of deceased BLOs during voter verification drives. ‘Mamata’s empathy for the underprivileged sets a gold standard, instilling confidence in public servants nationwide.’
This exchange highlights escalating tensions between SP and BJP, with saints caught in the crossfire. As cases progress, public discourse on religion and politics intensifies, potentially shaping voter sentiments.