Swami under scanner, defends himself

11/12/2008 5:54:23 AM
In the latest in the Malegaon blast probe, Swami Avdeshanand, who has come under the Maharashtra Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) scanner, has said that he has nothing to do with the alleged mastermind in the case -- Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur.Swami Avdeshanand is the spiritual guru to Sadhvi Pragya Singh, who became a disciple of Swamiji in 2006 during the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad. Swami Avdeshanand is the head of the influential Juna Akhada. However, the Swami has refuted reports of him being in close contact with Sadhvi Pragya. He says he has lakhs of followers and Sadhvi was just one of them. He said that he has met Pragya barely once or twice. Speaking exclusively to TIMES NOW Swami Avdeshanand said, "Pragya's family had come to the Kumbh Mela so that she could get diksha. I am an Acharya which means that I can give diksha to everybody, which is why I gave diksha to Pragya - thinking that her parents wanted her to receive it." "I gave her diksha, the same way which I give other Sanyasis. But after that I have met her only once or twice when she came to meet me. I never saw her after that. She told me that she was going to Jabalpur and some other places. After that I never met her again," added the spiritual leader.VHP to launch agitation on Sadhvi issueCriticising Anti-terrorist Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra Police for conducting repeated narco tests on Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, the VHP yesterday said it will launch an agitation on the issue."Police should explain whether it has ever conducted such type of repeated narco tests of any arrested terrorist?" VHP secretary Vinayak Deshpande asked."I ask the Union Government why capital punishment of Afzal Guru, key accused in attack on Parliament House, is delayed on one pretext of another?"He alleged that the ATS was determined to give a new brand of "Hindu terrorism" to defame the majority community. Deshpande told reporters that up to November 16, peaceful protests would be organised in every district of the country and if "ATS continues to harass Sadhvi Pragya" then an intensive agitation would be launched. (With inputs from Agencies)


Your report says Swami Avdeshanand has said that he has nothing to do with Sadhvi Pragnya. This is faulty reporting as Swamiji has not at all said he has nothing to do with the Sadhvi. How could he have nothing to do with her, as he has conceded that she is his disciple? That she has only met him sparsely after her initiation is natural, as she is not a resident of his ashram nor does she travel with his entourage. Having being initiated, it is normal for disciples to again meet their guru only at crucial periods of their advancement in spirituality. So by bad (or connived) reporting, the reporter has sought to give the impression that the Sadhvi is guilty and everybody wants to wash their hands off her.

http://www.timesnow.tv/NewsDtls.aspx?NewsID=20751