Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, May 3
Bihar’s Education Minister Prof Chandrashekhar Yadav had warned that the Bagheshwar Dham (MP) preacher, Dhirendra Krishna Shastri would be arrested like L K Advani for spreading hatred in the society.
Advani was arrested in 1990 at Samastipur during his Rath Yatra rolled out as part of Ayodhya movement. Education Minister while speaking at Kishanganj said Shastri was engaged in preaching hatred for a particular community and called for Hindu Rashtra. He reminded Advani was arrested by the then Chief Minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav and lodged in a prison at Masanjor in Santhal Parganas.
Earlier, elder son of Lalu Tejpratap Yadav, who is also Forest and Environment Minister in Nitish Kumar led cabinet had declared Shastri would not be allowed land in Bihar. He has asked formed a private army of youths and a video is on circulation in which the young minister is seen training youths in Dhirendra Shastri Bhagao campaign.
However, the Bihar unit of the BJP is furious over the statement of the education minister and Tejpratap’s warning. In a message sent from Tikamgarh, Dhirendra Shastri today said in Bhojpuri, “I am happy to announce, I am landing at Patna on May 13.”
Union Minister for Rural Development Giriraj Singh on Wednesday reacted to the warnings of the RJD leaders and said, “No one can dare to prevent Shastri ji from landing at Patna. (Kis Sarkar ko himmat hai, unko rok sake).
Leader of Opposition Vijay Kumar Sinha said Shastri was a spiritual and religious leader. People would benefit from his preachings. If any attempt was made to prevent him, BJP would take to lathis (danda) to take on those opposing him.
Sushil Kumar Modi, former Deputy Chief Minister in a statement today said RJD could not stop AIMIM Chief Mohammad Owasi from addressing meetings in Bihar, how can the party prevent Spiritual leader like Shastri? RJD is deliberately attacking Hindu spiritual leaders. He regretted the statement of state RJD President Jagdanand Singh that Shastri would be beaten in Bihar. “RJD is following its policy of appeasement to minorities,” he added.
Nitin Nabin, BJP’s National Secretary, said, “Inth ka jawab patthar se denge.” He is a Hindu religious leader and no one stop him from coming to Bihar, Nabin added.
Dhirendra Shastri is scheduled to address a gathering at Taret Pali in Naubatpur block, 25 km from here between May 13 and 15. He will organise a Divine Darbar on May 15 to accept questions from his followers. Organisers have prepared a 15 lakh square feet ground for his preaching and 200 acres rain proof pandal is being set up, according to Bihar Bageshwar Abhiyan convener Arwind Thakur, a retired police officer.
District administration had rejected demand for allotment of Patna’s Gandhi Maidan for the preaching.
