Why was godman Kalicharan Maharaj arrested? 8 points

When was the last time a religious saint made a speech where he talked about brotherhood, compassion and communal harmony? Instead of scratching your head looking for an answer, what you can do instead is find out how many times saints spat venom publicly. You will get a lot of instances.

After the hate speech at the Haridwar Dharam Sansad, which was attended by scores of monks, where expletives were used against minorities in India, there’s another saint who has something to say along the same lines. His name is Kalicharan Maharaj. The godman made unpalatable remarks on Mahatma Gandhi and also called out against Islam and minorities in India.

Kalicharan Maharaj has been arrested by Chhattisgarh Police for using derogatory words against Mahatma Gandhi.

First, see the video of him talking.

Now here is the whole case in 8 points:

1. UN-RELIGIOUS CONCLAVE

It all started at a religious conclave in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, where a Dharam Sansad of religious preists was announced. The conclave took a sour turn when 'godman' Kalicharan Maharaj got up to speak.

He said, “We have instances of two forcible acquisition by Muslims. They took over Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq; and through politics, they got Bangladesh and Pakistan. That great bas**** Gandhi ruined the politics of the country. I salute the great Nathuram Godse for killing Gandhi.”

A sharper attack on Muslims followed. He said that it’s important to take care of these abscesses and pimples, otherwise they will become cancer of the country. He said, ”Muslims are fully prepared for riots whereas Hindus aren't, and if police wouldn’t have been there, Hindus would have suffered immensely.”

2. FIR FILED

After the event was over, an FIR was filed by former Congres Mayor of Chhattisgarh Pramod Dubey at the Tikrapara Police Station in Raipur. Interestingly, Pramod Dubey was also attending the event. The FIR was filed under Section 502 (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill will between classes), Section 294 (obscene act in any public place) of the IPC.

3. NO REGRETS

Just after the FIR was filed and a search operation was launched for Kalicharan Maharaj, he released another video on YouTube, backing whatever he said at the event. He said that he doesn’t consider Mahatma Gandhi as the Father of the Nation. He added that even if he is hanged for his comments, he would gladly accept it.

4. THE CHASE

Though the 'godman' thumped his chest in the video after the FIR, he sensed the impending peril and went underground. Three teams from Maharashtra, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh Police were on a lookout for him.

5. THE ARREST

#WATCH Raipur Police arrests Kalicharan Maharaj from Madhya Pradesh's Khajuraho for alleged inflammatory speech derogating Mahatma Gandhi(Video source: Police) pic.twitter.com/xP8oaQaR7G

— ANI (@ANI) December 30, 2021

Kalicharan Maharaj was finally traced to Bageshwar Dham, 25 km from Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh in the early hours of Thursday. He was arrested by a seven-member police team from Chhattisgarh Police at 4 am December 30. 

"Kalicharan Maharaj was staying at a rented accommodation near Bageshwar Dham, 25 km from Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh. Raipur Police arrested him at 4 am today. By late evening, the police team will reach Raipur with the accused," said Raipur Superintendent of Police Prashant Agrawal.

Also, as per news, the local MP police was not made aware of his arrest. MP government in a statement to ANI said that the Chhattisgarh police has violated the intersate protocols by not informing the state police about the operation. MP DGP Police has been asked to speak to Chhatisgarh DGP to seek clarification on the matter. 

6. POLITCS HEATS UP

Asaduddin Owaisi, Lok Sabha MP and leader of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen accused the Congress of being complicit in the case; given that there was a former Congress Mayor, Pramod Dubey, present at the event. Owaisi said that when the 'godman' was making these vile remarks, Congress leader Pramod Dubey, BJP leader Sachinanand Upasane and Nand Kumar Sai were present, but nobody said anything.

4. क्या राम सुंदर को ये बयान आपत्तिजनक नहीं लगा? क्या ये बयान निंदनीय नहीं है? जब कालीचरण यह भाषण दे रहा था तो दर्शकों के बीच कांग्रेस नेता प्रमोद दुबे, भाजपा नेता सच्चिदानंद उपासने और नंदकुमार साय भी मौजूद थे। किसी ने अपनी चुप्पी नहीं तोड़ी।

— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) December 27, 2021

7. BAGHEL REACTS

Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel spoke on the ongoing controversy. He said that there’s no question of sparing Kalicharan Maharaj for his attacks on Mahatma Gandhi and for disrupting harmony of the society. Taking to Twitter, he wrote, "If a hypocrite thinks that he will escape the law after abusing the Father of the Nation and spewing venom in the society, he is living in delusion."

बापू को गाली देकर, समाज मे विष वमन करके अगर किसी पाखंडी को लगता है कि वो अपने मंसूबों में कामयाब हो जाएंगे, तो उनका भ्रम है।उनके आका भी दोनों सुन लें..भारत और सनातन संस्कृति दोनों की आत्मा पर चोट करने की जो भी कोशिश करेगा... न संविधान उसे बख्शेगा, न जनता उन्हें स्वीकार करेगी।

— Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) December 27, 2021

8. RAY OF HOPE

Mahant Ram Sundar Das, a religious leader from Chhattisgarh’s Dudhadhari temple, diswoned Kalicharan Maharaj's comments on Gandhi and boycotted the event. He said, "Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is the Father of the Nation and I am sad that he is subjected to ridicule in this Dharam Sansad. I apologise to you all and I am also boycotting this event.”