CM faces flak for sharing dais with godman

MUMBAI: A day after a picture of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and criminal from Pune went viral on social media, his attendance at the birthday celebration of

MUMBAI: A day after a picture of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and criminal from Pune went viral on social media, his attendance at the birthday celebration of controversial godman Narendra Maharaj has sparked controversy once again.

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Activists slammed Fadnavis for sharing the dais with the godman and for reportedly saying that dharma satta (the power of religion) was greater than raj satta (political power).

Fadnavis, along with Union ministers Shripad Naik, Hansraj Ahir, legislative assembly speaker Haribhau Bagade, Ratnagiri MP (Shiv Sena) Vinayak Raut and local BJP and Shiv Sena leaders attended a function to celebrate Narendra Maharaj’s 50th birthday at Nanij in Ratnagiri on Saturday.

“Political power represents the system of the ruler and his citizens, but religious power has the utmost importance to sacrifice,” said Fadnavis.

The CM also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi could not attend the function due a scheduling conflict.

Social activists slammed Fadnavis, saying that his speech was against constitutional guidelines. “As a person at the helm of power in the state, the CM is expected to safeguard constitutional guidelines by promoting scientific views. Attending a function to felicitate a religious guru, who claims to cure ailments such as cancer with the help of witchcraft, is totally against the constitutional framework,” said Mukta Dabholkar of Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti. “We had writen to the CM on Friday and asked him to keep away from such functions as it spreads the wrong message. However, he did not pay heed to our appeal,” said Dabholkar.

Mukta is the daughter of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar who was allegedly killed by right wing groups. “Narendra Maharaj was held guilty in a departmental inquiry for corruption and was terminated from government service years ago. Criminal cases have been registered against his followers for threatening anti-superstition activists,” she added.

Significantly, Maharashtra has enacted a law that makes provisions for stringent punishment for those who cheat or hurt people by spreading superstitious statements.

“The CM has endorsed the RSS ideology of giving religious power more importance. The doctrine was described in the Manusmriti (ancient legal text) and the CM now wants it to be implemented in Maharashtra. The BJP has been trying to gain political mileage by using godmen across the country and recently in Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. This is dangerous,” said NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik.

Former chief minister Ashok Chavan too had drawn flak for inviting godman Shri Satya Sai Baba to the official bungalow to seek his blessings after he was sworn in as CM in November 2009. Rationalists criticised Chavan, saying it was not in accordance with the state’s secular tradition.

Fadnavis drew flak on Friday after a picture of him and Punebased criminal Baba Bodke went viral on social media. Bodke has several cases, including murder, pending against him. Fadnavis’ office however, said the CM did not know Bodke. Bodke was accompanying businessman Suresh Hawre’s wife who had come to the CM’s bungalow to invite him for a function.

A minister in Fadnavis’ cabinet, Rajkumar Badole, too stirred controversy with his remarks on the Maratha protests.

Badole termed the Maratha rallies as protests held by wealthy people.

Maratha organisations and opposition parties reacted strongly, demanding his removal from the cabinet.

Congress leader and leader of the opposition in the legislative assembly, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, said Badole should be sacked immediately.