March 15, 2012
Phalgun Krushna 8, Kaliyug Varsha 5113


Mumbai: Based on an RTI filed by a member of their organisation, the senior members of the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti reported that Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (ANS) is been funded by foreign agencies to run activities against religions of the state.

In a press conference yesterday at Mumbai, Shivaji Vatkar, senior member, Hindu Janjagruti Samiti reported that, Narendra Dabholkar (President, ANS) is been funded to trigger anti-religious sentiments in the society by foreign agencies.

“Dabholkar is a puppet for the foreign agencies which are funding his activities of anti-superstition in the state. We were searching for some evidence against him and finally an RTI gave the statistics which proves that Dabholkar is an operative of foreign powers,” alleged Vatkar.

Directing to the RTI response received by the Samiti from the Deputy Secretary of the Government of India, Vatkar pointed that Rs.16,96,978 were contributed by foreign agencies to Dabholkar’s organisation.

(A Copy of the RTI response available with ADC)

Bill-Deal

Members of Hindu Janjagruti Samiti, Warkai Sampraday, Jain Samaj, Shree Sampraday and several other organisations have called for a massive protest rally at Azad Maidan on March 20.

“The protest and dharna is against the ‘Anti-Superstitious Bill’ which is been slotted to be passed and implemented in the state assembly budget session due this week,” said Vatkar.

Sighting several shortcomings in the proposed bill, Advocate Virendra Ichalkaranjikar representing the Samiti said that, there is a provision of maximum seven years punishment for human sacrifice and murder.

“However, there are more stringent punishments in IPC than the new bill. Also, there is a lot of ambiguity in proving the ‘Intent’ of the act in the bill. We also feel that section 13 (in the bill) will put an end to all religious faiths and practices. It implies that in case you are performing a ‘Hom-Havan’ at your home and your neighbour complaints against it, then, under the act, you could face arrest without bail,” added Ichalkaranjikar.

Speaking with ADC, Vatkar said that Harshwardhan Patil (minister of Parliamentary Affairs) had ensured that the topic of the ‘Anti-Superstitious Bill’ will be discussed in the budget session. “We expect them to co-operate with us to dissolve the bill otherwise along with our members around 15,00,000 (Fifteen lakh) warkaris will protest aggressively against the state government.

Source : Afternoon DC