MLA Kaushik flayed for meeting saint who supported film ‘PK’

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, January 6

Three-time BJP legislator Madan Kaushik here yesterday sought blessings of Shri Kalki Peethadeeshwar Acharya Swami Pramod Krishnam whom the Bajrang Dal, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and the Hindu Jagran Manch had opposed his statement demanding a ban on the Bajrang Dal.

Activists of these Hindu organisations were agitated and criticised Madan Kaushik for seeking the Acharya’s blessings and praising him.

Kaushik met the Acharya at the Geet Gobind palace, near Chandracharya Square, and wished him on his birthday. He called the Acharya a saint who was committed to the cause of society, nation and humanity. Kaushik said it was a personal meeting between a devotee and a saint. No political conclusion should be derived from the meeting.

Though he refused to comment on recent protests by the Bajrang Dal, ABVP and BJP activists, saying that everyone had freedom of expression in the democratic set-up of the country.

“I can’t harm my spiritual, personal relations with saint community. Protesting against Acharya’’s comments was some activists’’ impromptu decision, not the party’’s,” Kaushik said.

While Acharya Pramod Krishnam said he had no qualms about the protesters and he even prayed for their longevity.

“For a saint no one is big or small, friend or foe. But still I make it clear that those who try to play with religious sentiments of the people, have no place in the democratic-secular country,” said Acharya.

BJP district president Kuldeep Gupta said the legislator should had taken the party into confidence before meeting him at the venue, when party activists were staging a protest against the Acharya.

Congress legislator Ambrish Kumar taking a dig at Madan Kaushik’s meeting with Acharya said this had exposed the dual nature of the MLA.

Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Progressive) leader Uday Ram Semwal criticised the BJP activists for showing black flags outside Acharya Pramod Krishnam birthday celebrations venue yesterday, where Chief Minister Harish Rawat was also present, now they should do the same to their party’s legislator.