Lagatar24 Desk
Raipur, Dec.27: Hindu religious leader Kalicharan Maharaj has been charged with spreading animosity between classes after he used harsh comments against Mahatma Gandhi and praised his assassin Nathuram Godse.
On Sunday evening, Kalicharan used a “abusive” phrase against Mahatma Gandhi at the conclusion of the two-day ‘Dharma Sansad’ at Ravan Bhata venue in Raipur, Chhattisgarh and urged people to pick a loyal Hindu leader as the country’s leader to safeguard the faith.
Leaders of the state’s ruling Congress reacted angrily to his statement.
“Based on the complaint of Congress leader Pramod Dubey, a case was registered against Kalicharan on Sunday night at Tikrapara police station under Indian Penal Code sections 505 (2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) and 294 (obscene acts),” a police official said.
Further investigation into the case is underway, he added.
During the event Kalicharan had said, “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.”
Sushil Anand Shukla, the chief of the state Congress’ communication wing, had criticised the religious leader’s remarks.
“The use of abusive words against Mahatma Gandhi is highly objectionable. Kalicharan should first prove that he is a saint,” he said.
Kalicharan Maharaj’s remark at Raipur Dharam Sansad occurred just days after a religious gathering in Haridwar made news for aggressive and divisive speeches made by Hindu religious leaders during the occasion against minority communities.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi turned to Twitter to cite Mahatma Gandhi, ostensibly in response to Kalicharan Maharaj’s remark.
“You can chain me, torture me, you can destroy this body, but you can’t imprison my thoughts – Mahatma Gandhi,” Rahul Gandhi tweeted.
“आप मुझे बेड़ियों से जकड़ सकते हैं, यातना दे सकते हैं, आप इस शरीर को ख़त्म भी कर सकते हैं, लेकिन आप मेरे विचारों को क़ैद नहीं कर सकते।”
– महात्मा गांधी#GandhiForever
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 27, 2021
