"No remorse": Hindu seer stands by derogatory statements on Gandhi

Hindu religious leader Kalicharan Maharaj has expressed his defiance in the face of two FIRs filed against him in Maharashtra and Chattisgarh, for making derogatory statements about Mahatma Gandhi at a religious conclave held in Raipur on Sunday evening.

"An FIR has been registered against me for making derogatory remarks on Gandhi, but I do not have any remorse for it," said the Hindu seer in a video message that was broadcast on social media. An FIR has beel filed on the basis of IPC sections 505(2) and 294 and efforts are on to arrest him according to police sources.

During his speech at the "Dharma Sansad" meeting, Maharaj proclaimed that Gandhi was one of the reasons India remained weak as he alleged Gandhi stood in the way of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel coming to power. The Shiv Sena-led government assured that action would be taken against Kalicharan Maharaj when the issue was raised in Maharashtra Assembly.

Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse was also hailed by Maharaj on stage, and he concluded his speech by asserting that he was "ready to die" speaking the truth. However, Mahant Ram Sundar Das, the convenor of the Sansad, expressed his disapproval for the statement made by 'Saint' Kalicharan and distanced himself from the issue.

Various other inflammatory statements were also made, such as insisting Hindus arm themselves against minorities and accusing minority groups like Christians and Muslims in India of having undue influence in politics and administration across the world.

The event, organised by NGO Neelkanth Seva Samiti and the Doodhadhari Math, was attended by Congress leader Pramod Dubey and BJP leaders Brijmohan Agrawal and Vishnu Deo Sai. Swamy Prabhodanand Giri, who had earlier made statements at the controversial 'Dharma Sansad' in Haridwar, also attended the event.