Politicians across party lines express shock over Bhaiyyu Maharaj's suicide

Bhayyuji Maharaj, an Indore based spiritual guru, committed suicide by shooting himself.

Image: File/ PTI

Mumbai:  Political leaders cutting across the party lines expressed shock over the death of spiritual guru Bhaiyyu Maharaj, an Indore based self-proclaimed spiritual guru, has committed cby shooting himself in Madhya Pradesh's Indore.

आध्यात्मिक गुरु श्री भय्यूजी महाराज यांच्या निधनाची दु:खद बातमी कळली. त्यांच्याशी माझे व्यक्तिगत जिव्हाळ्याचे संबंध होते. त्यांचा हा अकाली मृत्यु मनाला चटका लावणारा आहे. माझी विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि.

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) June 12, 2018

"Learnt about the death of spiritual guru Shri Bhaiyyuji Maharaj. I had personal relationship with him. His untimely death is saddening. My humble tributes," Union minister Nitin Gadkari tweeted. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed similar sentiments and hailed the spiritual guru for the "huge work" he did for the deprived in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

भूमीसुधार, जलसंधारण, शेतकरी आणि मुलांच्या शिक्षणासाठी श्री भैयुजी महाराजांनी केलेले कार्य सदैव स्मरणात राहील. त्यांना भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजली! त्यांचा मोठा आप्तपरिवार आणि चाहत्यांच्या दु:खात मी सहभागी आहे.

— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) June 12, 2018

Fadnavis said farmers and tribals were at the centre of Bhaiyyu Maharaj's activities. "Bhaiyyu Maharaj's work towards land reforms, water conservation, farmers (welfare) and education of children will always be remembered. Tributes to him! "Am part of mourning of his big family and followers," the chief minister said on Twitter. Hailing Bhaiyyu Maharaj for carrying forward the legacy of spirituality in Maharashtra, Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said the news of his death was "shocking and unbelievable".

भैय्युजी महाराजांच्या अकस्मात निधनाचे वृत्त अत्यंत धक्कादायक व अविश्वसनीय आहे. अध्यात्म क्षेत्रात महाराष्ट्राचा वारसा पुढे चालविण्याचे काम त्यांनी जोपासले होते. कायम हसतमुख, उत्साही आणि उर्जा प्रदान करणाऱ्या भैय्युजी महाराजांचे अकाली निधन चटका लावणारे आहे.#RIP #BhaiyyujiMaharaj pic.twitter.com/r8Y7xtfSS0

— R Vikhe Patil (@RVikhePatil) June 12, 2018

"The untimely death of Bhaiyyuji Maharaj, who was ever smiling, enthusiastic and one giving energy, is saddening. #RIP #BhaiyyujiMaharaj," the Congress leader said on Twitter. His party colleague and former state chief minister Prithviraj Chavan remembered the spiritual leader for his social and political work, which he said was aimed at helping the common people.

Shocked to hear sudden demise of spiritual leader #BhaiyyujiMaharaj . His spiritual, social and political work was always aimed at helping common people. My condolences. May his soul rest in peace

— Prithviraj Chavan (@prithvrj) June 12, 2018

"A lot of political people used to meet him. He was a spiritual person, who motivated people to do good. He visited Maharashtra frequently and met a lot of people and was also involved in social work here," Chavan said in his condolence message. NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik also expressed grief and observed that the spiritual leader had taken part in several social works in Maharashtra and MP.

श्री भय्यूजी महाराज यांच्या निधनाची बातमी धक्कादायक व दुःखद आहे. महाराष्ट्र व मध्य प्रदेशातील अनेक सामाजिक कार्यांत त्यांचा सहभाग होता. त्यांच्या आत्म्यास चिरशांती लाभो!

— Nawab Malik (@nawabmalikncp) June 12, 2018

"May his soul rest in peace," Malik said on the micro-blogging site. The 50-year-old spiritual leader allegedly shot himself at his home in Indore.A suicide note was also recovered from his room in which he said he took the extreme step because he was stressed with his life. He said no one is responsible for his death.