Hindu Sanyasis form forum for self defence

The meeting, which was attended by 75 Sanyasis from the 35 Matts in the State following 14 schools, also decided to collect evidences from the Ashrams where the DYFI activists had allegedly carried out atrocities. The Swamis are also planning to submit these evidences before the Human Rights Commission for action against the attackers.

The collection of evidence would start from the Ashram of Sadhu Vinod in Kannur, himself a former DYFI activist. Vinod’s Ashram was ransacked by DYFI activists despite the explanations given by even local residents that he never sprang up miracles or treat people through faith-healing.

Vinod, according to reliable local people, is only a spiritual man who was concerned about the degradation of the environment.

It may be mentioned here that the DYFI activists attacked him and forcibly cut his hair and beard and he was planning to petition the authorities on this. Vinod was living in a cave-like recess in the one-acre Ashram courtyard, a property he had inherited from his father, but the DYFI activists alleged that it came under surplus land.

The new Sanyasi outfit would also present their findings to State Governor RL Bhatia.

The resolution passed by the meeting at Thekke Madham in Thrissur, in which representatives of Chinmaya Mission, Mata Amritanandamayi Matt, Sivagiri Ashram and Sree Ramakrishna Ashram and others participated, also asked the Government to desist from the constant harassment of the Hindu Swamis with its raids against fake godmen.

The meeting pointed out that the Government’s determination in acting against Hindu Sanyasis was not being seen in their steps against the spiritual personalities of other religions.

“Will the Government take to task all the cassocked people for the crimes committed by one cassocked man? This does not happen because they have strong organisational support. Then why should the Government victimise all the Hindu Swamis for the crimes of some fake godmen?” asked one of the participants of the meeting.

Another Swami said, “The secretary of a leading party had the other day said most of the Swamis were fraudsters. How can he say that? We all know and say that there are many fraudster politicians. But does that mean that all politicians are fraudsters?”