Chhattisgarh arrests Hindu seer Kalicharan Maharaj from MP, both states spar

Raipur, December 30

Chhattisgarh Police arrested Hindu religious leader Kalicharan Maharaj from neighbouring Madhya Pradesh on Thursday over his alleged derogatory remarks against Mahatma Gandhi, an official said.

The action, however, led to a slugfest between the BJP-governed Madhya Pradesh and the Congress government in Chhattisgarh.

MP Home Minister Narottam Mishra claimed the action was a violation of the inter-state protocol, a charge denied by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who asked Mishra whether he was happy or sad with the arrest of the person who “abused” Mahatma Gandhi.

Baghel also said action would be taken against those using abusive language against the Father of the Nation, who gave the message of peace and non-violence to the world.

Acting on a specific input, a team of Raipur police apprehended Kalicharan Maharaj, alias Abhijeet Dhananjay Saraag, at around 4 am from a rented room near Bageshwar Dham, located about 25 km from Khajuraho town in MP, Raipur SP Prashant Agrawal said. He will be produced in a court within 24 hours of custody, the official said.

However, MP Home Minister Mishra termed the Chhattisgarh Police’s action as “highly objectionable”. “The federal structure did not allow such an action. They should have informed us. If they wanted, they could have summoned him (Kalicharan) by sending a notice. I have asked MP DGP to immediately talk to Chhattisgarh’s DGP and register a strong protest and also seek an explanation on the issue,” Mishra told reporters in Bhopal when asked about the seer’s arrest.

During the conclusion of the two-day ‘dharma sansad’ (religious parliament) in Raipur on Sunday evening, the seer had allegedly used abusive words against the Father of the Nation, and asked people to elect a staunch Hindu leader as the head of the government in order to protect the religion. — PTI