New Delhi: The Chhattisgarh police have registered an FIR against the Hindu religious leader Kalicharan Maharaj for making derogatory remarks against Mahatma Gandhi and hailing his assassin Nathuram Godse.
The incident took place on Sunday evening when during the conclusion of the two-day Dharm Sansad in Raipur, Kalicharan used an abusive word against Mahatma Gandhi and urged people to elect a staunch Hindu leader as the head of the government to protect the religion.
In response to the godman's comment, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel said that the administration will take strict action against him. "Such statements against Mahatma Gandhi are not acceptable. We condemn it. The administration will take strict action as per the law," he said.
According to Indian Express, the event was attended by more than 20 religious leaders and political leaders from Congress and BJP. The Congress leader Pramod Dubey later filed the complaint against Kalicharan for his derogatory remarks.
The case was registered on Sunday night at Tikrapara police station under Indian Penal Code sections 505 (2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred, or ill-will between classes) and 294 (obscene acts), a police official told PTI. He added that a further investigation is underway.
Kalicharan also targeted the minorities of the country saying that their aim is to capture countries through politics. “The target of Islam is to capture nation through politics. In front of our eyes, they had captured in 1947 (referring to partition)...They had earlier captured Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan. They captured Bangladesh and Pakistan through politics...I salute Nathuram Godse that he killed Gandhi,” he said.
In reaction to Kalicharan’s remarks, state Congress’ communication wing head Anand Shukla said: “Use of abusive words against Mahatma Gandhi is highly objectionable. Kalicharan should first prove that he is a saint.”