VHP’s ire against rationalists for filing complaint against ‘godman’

Those who have been threatened by local members of the VHP and the Shiv Sena include Godhra-based physician Dr Sujat Wali who has also drawn flak from Dawoodi Bohra community in Godhra for his ‘un-Islamic’ lifestyle.

Meanwhile,Rationalist Humanist Association of Godhra Secretary Mukund Sindhav,a retired official from the Agriculture Department,claims to have exposed Baba’s secret ways of making money from his devotees.

“Every Wednesday,he starts the campaign from a new place. Devotees buy coconuts worth Rs 10-15 from a specific seller who is associated with the ‘godman’. These coconuts are resold after devotees offer them to Baba. Unsuspecting tribals suffering from polio or other diseases are covered with a blanket and made to walk with the support by some strong people. Villagers believe it to be a miracle and pay money or offer coconuts which are resold,” said Sindhav,who himself had sent a girl suffering from polio to test Bharwad’s curing powers.

“In the last three weeks,she and her parents have gone to various villages on Wednesdays and so far nothing has happened apart from spending money to offer coconuts,” said Sindhav.

“At a peace committee meeting headed by Panchmahals district collector,local VHP member Shambhu Shukla warned us to stay away from this work. Poor unsuspecting villagers are taken for a ride by this man,” said Wali,who recently filed a police complaint against the members of his own community for allegedly spreading rumours against him and calling him the agent of ‘Satan’.

Meanwhile,VHP’s Panchmahals Secretary Yogesh Pathak along with Shiv Sena Secretary Harishchandra has in a memorandum submitted to Panchmahals district collector rubbished the work done by the Rationalist Humanist Society of Godhra.

“This is a conspiracy to create bad name for Kamliwale Baba,who is consulting the poor and diseased in the tribal areas for free,” said Pathak and Harish Chandra in a joint memorandum.

Sindhav blamed the local Bharatiya Janata Party unit for the move. He said,“By spreading superstitious beliefs,the BJP members along with VHP and Shiv Sena are trying to win popular support.”

Police officers from Dahod have already registered four offences against the godman since he started moving across the villages in the district since last December. The police charges against him are for spreading superstitious beliefs,unlawful assembly and various sections under the Medical Practitioners Act of 1963.

“It is not just Wali who has filed a complaint against this man. There have been three minor offences against Govind Bharwad under Section 188 in Limbkheda and Jhalod police stations. However,recently the accused changed his area of operations to Panchmahals district. We are talking to police officials there and hope to arrest him soon,” said Dahod Superintendent of Police Vipul Aggarwal.