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The Week November 9 2003 Madhya Pradesh Ballot babas: Political sanyasis shine on election eve By Deepak Tiwari It is the season of sanyasis in Madhya Pradesh. Politicians playing for high stakes want all the help they can get on election-eve. And these "holy men" are ready to offer divine assistance, reportedly in return for temporal favours. If politicians can exploit religion, why can't religious leaders exploit politicians, their chelas ask in private. Fair question. There is nothing otherworldly about these sanyasis. Leaders are prostrating before them seeking blessings and, in some instances, party tickets. Some have emerged from ashrams to lobby for their dear disciples. They can ensure victory, and at times, defeat. Rawatpura Sarkar, the 35-year-old baba from Bhind in Chambal valley, has openly asked his followers to defeat Govind Singh, a minister in Digvijay Singh's cabinet who has earned his displeasure. Digvijay's efforts to broker peace between them have failed. The baba can sure afford to take on the minister. He has no dearth of disciples. Ratnesh Rawat, his follower, said that over two dozen legislators and ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh were his staunch followers. In fact, meeting him is more difficult than meeting a VIP politician. Common folk have to be content with a darshan from afar. Disciples cited a reason for this. Since the baba was concerned with the welfare of mankind, he preferred to spend time with those who were determining its destiny?‘namely, politicians. "Maharaj wants to change their soul by bringing them under his holy influence," said one of them. Draped in white robes, Sarkar travels in an air-conditioned coach and flaunts a mobile phone. In fact, the modern style is catching on fast among sanyasis. Uday Singh Desmukh alias Bhayyu Maharaj of Indore is another hi-tech baba who usually roams around in kurta-pyjamas. He usually speaks on nation building, rural economy, education and the need to worship Bharat Mata. He has a fasci-nation for trendy cars and electronic gadgets. His ashram in Indore has close-circuit cameras and electronic security systems. "Maharaj's disciples are mainly from Maharatstra and include Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and former chief ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh and Narayan Rane," said a disciple. Bhayyu Maharaj, however, denied that he had a yen for VIP politicians. "I don't do any tantra mantra," he said. "Thousands of common people come here every day with their problems. The media does not see them." But enquiries revealed that he is very busy. Disciples say that he has "no dates" for the next two months. In Malwa resides Kamal Kishore Nagar, a sanyasi who is close to Digvijay. Nagar wields tremendous influence and got a superintendent of police transferred because he did not provide him (Nagar) with adequate security. Recently BJP leader Uma Bharati visited his ashram. Devprabhakar Shastri alias Kuda Wale Daddaji also boasts of disciples from the world of politics and films. He is popular as the guru of actor Ashutosh Rana. Shastri holds sway over Bundelkhand and Bhopal and has openly stated that his main task in the coming months would be to ensure the victory of Digvijay. It is the BJP which is usually credited with having the largest number of saints and babas in tow. But in Madhya Pradesh, the impor-tance of political sanyasis has grown exponentially during Digvijay's tenure. He pays obeisance to them whenever he gets an opportunity. And they shower blessings on him. Sant Kripal Singh of Gwalior openly praises Digvijay. Lal Baba (he wears red), who was gifted a car by the chief minister, has prophesied that he will sweep the coming elections. Probably, soft Hindutva in action. With the saints pitching in with their spiritual might, chances are that the Madhya Pradesh polls would not be fought on terra firma alone. _____ |
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November08, 2003 - [India Thinkers Net]APCLC President Kidnapped by the police >> |
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