Chhatarpur (Madhya Pradesh) / New Delhi: The controversy over arrest of Kalicharan Maharaj from a hotel in Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh (MP) by Chhattisgarh Police has snowballed into a fresh controversy. Leaders of both the states are constantly engaged in war of words, the latest being from the chief minister of Chhattisgarh who called Kalicharan Maharaj as demon.
"He is not a saint, he is a demon in the attire of saint," said Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in his latest remarks against the Hindu religious leader.
He added, "A saint is expected to give blessing and talks about the essence of religion, while this person has used defamatory language for the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, who always talked about of non-violence, peace, love and harmony. When he made such statements none of the BJP members came forward and condemned it, but now when he got arrested suddenly they all appeared. So, I want a clarification from BJP members that whether they are in support of arrest or against it."
Earlier in the day, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra, said, "Federal principles were not taken into consideration in the arrest of Kalicharan Maharaj . Our Chhattisgarh counterpart ought to have given notice to Madhya Pradesh police. Besides, inter-state protocols were also violated."
On the other hand, Bhupesh Baghel, said, "No violation has been done while arresting Kalicharan Maharaj. We have informed Kalicharan's relatives and advocate about his arrest."
Kalicharan Maharaj, who was on the run after making unparliamentary remarks against Mahatma Gandhi, has been arrested from Madhya Pradesh's Khajuraho on Thursday.
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"Kalicharan Maharaj was staying in a rented accommodation near Bageshwar Dham, 25km from Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh. Raipur Police arrested him at 4am today. By late evening, the police team will reach Raipur with the accused,” said Prashant Agarwal, Raipur’s superintendent of police.
Police, sources said, will produce Kalicharan before a Chhatarpur court and by the evening he will be taken to Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
Kalicharan, who claims to be a religious leader, had made disparaging remarks against Bapu, blaming him for the partition of the country in 1947 in a recent 'Dharam Sansad' in Raipur. Besides, Kalicharan he also praised and bowed Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi, for 'doing his job'. The seer had also said that the present day rulers of this country should behave like "orthodox Hindus".
After his controversial remark, patron of the Dharma Sansad, Mahant Ramsundar Das, strongly disapproved of his utterances and said that he will not attend the congregation next year.
Following it, an FIR was lodged against Kalicharan at Tikrapara police station in Chhattisgarh.
