Date:23/11/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/11/23/stories/2004112308491100.htm

National

Acharya cannot seek legal exemption: Sarvodaya leader

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, NOV. 22. The Sarvodaya leader, Siddharaj Dhadda, today asked the Bharatiya Janata Party to resist the temptation of making political capital out of the arrest of the Kanchi Acharya, Jayendra Saraswathi. ``The attempt is to create an unnecessary crisis all over the country. They are back at the old game of dividing society on communal lines.''

``The Sangh Parivar argument that the arrest of the Acharya is an insult to the entire Hindu society is not correct. The majority Hindu opinion is not with them in this argument,'' the nonagenarian Gandhian said. ``The attempts to politicise the issue by casting aspersions on the rule of law is deplorable.''

``Calling partymen to the streets for bandhs and protests in the wake of the arrest of the Acharya on a murder charge is a reflection of the growing disregard for the law of the land and the impartiality of the judicial system in the country,'' Mr. Dhadda said referring to today's bandh call by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad supported by the BJP.

``In the name of religion the Acharya cannot seek exemption from the legal action when facing such serious charges,'' Mr. Dhadda said, referring to the demand from certain quarters for a more lenient treatment for the seer considering his religious status.

``I have been a political prisoner during the Emergency but I don't think one can seek a preferential treatment in the name of religion,'' Mr. Dhadda said. ``May be some special treatment can be meted out to him if he is sentenced after trial. That is also in order to help him retain his self respect.''