Police Forced Confessions against Seer

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Police Forced Confessions against Seer

 

"He said the police had tortured many people, including devotees, to

obtain false statements against the Shankaracharya. About 45 days

ago, a Mutt devotee, along with his wife, was illegally detained for

three days and the investigating officer forced him to make a

confession that the Shankaracharya was involved in the murder."

 

Police Forced Confessions against Seer

Hindu leaders condemn seer's arrest

 

Sheela Bhatt in New Delhi and Shobha Warrier in Chennai | November

12, 2004 21:02 IST

Last Updated: November 12, 2004 21:41 IST

 

 

Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi's arrest following an

investigation into the murder of Shankararaman, who managed the

accounts of the Kanchi Mutt a few years back, has shocked his

critics and devotees alike.

 

"Can the Pope be arrested from the Church of England?" International

Secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad Praveen Togadia asked while

talking to rediff.com.

 

Kanchi seen judicial remand | HC seeks govt view on house arrest

"Why was the Shankaracharya arrested from Andhra Pradesh, a Congress-

ruled state? Why was he arrested at midnight? And why was his arrest

made on Diwali day, the most auspicious Hindu festival?"

 

Togadia alleged that for the past 15 days pressure was being built

on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to arrest the seer "as

part of Congress conspiracy."

 

'The police must have evidence against him'

He also alleged that information about the investigation was leaked

in a planned manner to R Gopal, the editor of Tamil weekly

Nakkeeran, which had carried a report with the details of the

investigation.

 

On the basis of that story, Jayalalithaa's opponents increased

political pressure on her. Last week, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

announced that Jayalalithaa's 'Brahminical bias' was impeding the

investigation. The DMK, known as an anti-forward caste party,

declared it would launch an agitation if the investigation was

stalled.

 

After the Nakkeeran report, the pontiff's devotees became active.

According to sources, during the last four days former president R

Venkataraman, who is a staunch devotee of the Shankaracharya, had

been trying to contact Jayalalithaa, but could not get in touch with

her.

 

His office refused to comment when contacted by rediff.com.

 

Togadia alleged that in view of the Bihar and Jharkhand elections

the Congress party wanted to create an image about itself amongst

Muslims of being a party under whose rule powerful Hindus could be

punished. He said that the arrest of the Shankaracharya would

establish Congress' credentials as an 'anti-Hindu and anti-forward

caste' party, which would help it in the elections.

 

Togadia, a vocal supporter of neo-Hindutva, also contended "games

were played" in such a way that Jayalalithaa had no option but to

arrest the Shankaracharya.

 

"The news of his arrest is shocking. It is time we understood that

religion and secular state are different entities and should remain

separate. Godmen should remain above politics," former cabinet

secretary T S R Subrahmaniam told rediff.com.

 

Subrahmaniam has criticised the Shankaracharya's active involvement

in the Ayodhya issue in the past.

 

"I can't comment on the police case, but [shankaracharya's] arrest

is a proof of the falling standards of the great glorious tradition

of Hinduism. It is a great letdown," he remarked.

 

Hindu Munnani leader Rama Gopalan said he felt 'sorrow' over the

manner in which the Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Mutt was arrested,

but refused to say comment on allegations of conspiracy and

political motive behind the arrest.

 

"I really do not understand what is behind all this. I do not see

any reason. I have absolutely no idea."

 

He said the Hindu Munnani was planning demonstrations throughout

Chennai on Saturday. The organisation would also arrange prayer

meetings in many temples, he said.

 

The Tamil Nadu state unit of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

condemned the arrest and appealed to the government to allow the

seer to perform all rituals and poojas without hindrance. "We are

scared that some anti-social elements may do some mischief, which

should not be allowed."

 

A spontaneous conglomeration of some prominent citizens of Chennai

signed a memorandum and submitted it to Governor S S Barnala in the

evening. "We requested the governor to keep the Shankaracharya in a

place where he will be able to perform his poojas and rituals

without any hindrance," one of the signatories said.

 

Hindu Makkal Katchi President Ashok Sampath said the Shankaracharya

was a "law-abiding citizen" and he would have been available for

interrogation at any time.

 

There was a warrant against Imam Bukhari of Delhi in the Kerala High

Court for the last 15 years, but no policeman had arrested him. A

Dalit leader in Tamil Nadu had been charge sheeted in two murder

cases and there were arrest warrants against him, but the Tamil Nadu

police had not yet arrested him, he said. "Why then did they arrest

our Shankaracharya at night, and when he was on tour?" he asked.

 

The arrest was politically motivated, he said, adding it was because

of DMK president Karunanidhi's relentless pressure on the

government. He said the case had been foisted on the Shankaracharya

and the police officials had provided wrong information to

Jayalalithaa

 

The Hindu Makkal Katchi would lodge a complaint with the Human

Rights Commission as human rights were violated while arresting the

Shankaracharya.

 

Vinayakar Murali, state coordinator of the Federation of Hindu

Organisations, Tamil Nadu, said the arrest was part of a conspiracy

to malign the image of the 2,500-year-old Kanchi Mutt.

 

He said the police had tortured many people, including devotees, to

obtain false statements against the Shankaracharya. About 45 days

ago, a Mutt devotee, along with his wife, was illegally detained for

three days and the investigating officer forced him to make a

confession that the Shankaracharya was involved in the murder. "At

that time itself I alerted the Mutt to take the matter to the Human

Rights Commission and also take legal steps," he claimed.

 

He said he had proof that the police had tortured people to make

false confessions against the Shankaracharya.

 

Now, the state government, which has been accused by the DMK of

working under the guidance of the Shankaracharya, was distancing

itself from the Mutt in view of the next Assembly elections, he

said.

 

He also claimed there was an international conspiracy. "Now, Kanchi

Shankaracharya is the tallest Hindu leader in India. I very strongly

feel hands from across the borders are involved in the conspiracy."

http://in.rediff.com/news/2004/nov/12kanchi8.htm