Lok Sabha elections 2019: Predict results and win ₹21 lakh, rationalists challenge astrologers

According to Avinash Patil, executive president, MANS, this has been done to expose astrologers who are misleading people.

Rationalists in the city have challenged astrologers to predict the results of elections for a cash prize of ₹21 lakh .

Rationalists in the city have challenged astrologers to predict the results of elections for a cash prize of ₹21 lakh . (HT File Photo)

The Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (MANS), founded by murdered rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, has invited astrologers to give 25 predictions .

According to Avinash Patil, executive president, MANS, this has been done to expose astrologers who are misleading people. “For years, these astrologers were claiming they have predicted election results. Now we want them to predict beforehand. We will give ₹21 lakh to anyone who predicts accurately,” said Patil. The astrologers have been asked to predict which party would get a majority in the polls, the number of women who would get elected , the number of seats every party would win as well as the number of NOTA votes, among other challenges.

Meanwhile, astrologers said the entire aim of MANS was to defame their profession. “Astrology is a science and our job is to provide respite to people. We are not here to predict results or win prizes. The problem with rationalists is that they are not ready for any logical arguments,” said Hittesh Gurujee, president, Vidhyaa Art of Eternal Science.