UP News: After reports of clashes between Ayodhya DM Nitish Kumar and Hanuman Garhi's Mahant Raju Das emerged, Das said that the gunner provided to him was taken away.
Citing the reasons behind the removal of the gunner provided to Das, Nitish Kumar said that Raju Das was found to have a criminal history, and criminal cases against him were registered in 2013, 2017, and 2023. Speaking to ABP News, the official said that there are times when he abuses the people and the administration of Ayodhya.
This comes after a clash broke out between Nitish Kumar and Mahant Raju Das in front of the ministers during a review meeting pertaining to the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) performance in Uttar Pradesh in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls.
The news of the clash was confirmed to ABP News by Raju Das himself. Raju Das gave a detailed account of the clash with the DM in the presence of two cabinet ministers. He also told about the gunner being taken away from him. Das also stated that he had taken time from the cabinet minister in charge of Ayodhya, Surya Pratap Shahi, to speak to him about the arbitrary behaviour of the officers.
Das said that when the workers of the saffron party are beaten and no hearing will take place, this is what is going to happen. According to ABP News sources, the statement given by Raju Das was before the incident occurred and is the crucial reason why the clash was triggered.
Kumar was very angry with Mahant Raju Das's statements against the administration, and due to this, he refused to sit with Das. After this, there was a fierce clash between these two in the presence of ministers, and following the clash, the gunner who came with Mahant Raju Das was asked to go back.
According to the sources, Das also expressed concern about his safety after his gunner was taken away, saying that he could be murdered. Das had sought time from Shahi to give his feedback on the saffron party's performance in UP. DM Ayodhya Nitish Kumar was also present.