Saints flay Lakshar MLA for misbehaving at akhara

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, June 30

Saints comprising representatives of all 13 major akhadas today condemned the alleged misbeaviour of Lakshar BJP legislator Sanjay Gupta at the Sangalwal Akhada in Sultanpur.

Saints, while addressing mediapersons here, alleged that Gupta in an inebriated condition last night used derogatory words against Sangalwal Akhada Mahant Sagar Muni.

Shri Mahant Maheshwar Das Maharaj of Shri Panchayati Akhada Bada Udasin said they had written to BJP national president Amit Shah and Sar Sang Sanchalak of the RSS Mohan Bhagwat in this regard. This is a rare incident when a legislator had misbehaved with a saint.

Shri Mahant Raghu Muni Maharaj said Gupta was in an inebriated condition last night and he along with his gunman tried to stay in the akhada. When Mahant Sagar Muni told him that the akhada is a prohibited place, the MLA used derogatory words and even directed his gunman to threaten the Mahant.

“If public representatives behave in this way, one can assume what kind of democracy we are living in. Gupta’s behaviour is shameful and condemnable. How can a poor voter or a complainant seek solution to his woes from such a legislator who drinks liquor and misuses his power,” said Muni Maharaj.

Saints asked Amit Shah and state BJP president Ajay Bhatt to take disciplinary action against Sanjay Gupta. They said they could not tolerate such indecent behaviour

Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad national spokesperson Mahant Mohan Das Maharaj said Gupta through his associate had filed a counter complaint at local police station, which is quite shocking.

Mahant Divyambar Muni, Prem Das, Jayendra Muni, Damodar Das, Darshan Das, Niranjan Das, Sukhdev Muni, Maha Mandaleshwar Swami Harichetnand Maharaj, Mohan Das Ramayani, Kapil Muni, Premanand, Sadhunand, Rishiswaranand and Prabodhanand have also condemned Gupta’s alleged behaviour.

Despite repeated attempts Gupta could not be contacted. Meanwhile, district BJP president Suresh Rathore said in fact some persons in the akhada misbehaved with Gupta’s gunman, which Mahant Sagar Muni has misinterpreted.

Rathore added that Gupta was returning after inspecting a newly constructed road in Sultanpur and as it was already night he thought of staying at the akhada.