Aseemanand flees from Dangs

SURAT, Feb 3: Swami Aseemanand, a Vaghai-based sadhu who was allegedly responsible for reconversion of Christian tribals to Hinduism in t...

SURAT, Feb 3: Swami Aseemanand, a Vaghai-based sadhu who was allegedly responsible for reconversion of Christian tribals to Hinduism in the Dangs, is said to have moved out of the district following warnings from authorities.

Though the district authorities had not taken any action against him, it was reportedly made clear to him that his presence was unwanted and that if he continued with reconversion, he would be in trouble.

On a query from The Indian Express, District Collector J P Gupta confirmed that the Swami had left his ashram, the Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad at Waghai. The ashram had been in the eye of a storm ever since anti-Christian attacks gathered momentum in the district.

After arriving in Waghai a couple of years ago, the Swami had spearheaded the formation of Bajrang Dal units in every village. The recent violence against Christians was reportedly led by the Swami.

The Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad, an organisation comprising mostly tribals, is an offshoot of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, of which the Swami is the national president. In Dangs, he had been associated with the Hindu Jagran Manch HJM and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad VHP. He also attended the December 25 rally at the invitation of the Hindu Jagran Manch.

While local leaders of the HJM and the VHP were arrested by the police for instigating violence, there was no police case registered against the Swami.

The Collector told The Indian Express that the Swami had not been driven out of Dangs but the message had been sent across. 8220;I8217;m told he has not been seen in the district for the past 15 days,8221;, he said. 8220;Neither community wants any interference from outside. It is a local problem and we want to solve it locally.8221;

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Asked if VHP president Pradip Patil 8212; a Maharashtrian 8212; would be asked to leave the district, the Collector said, 8220;No. Patil has been residing in Ahwa for the last 15 years.8221;

Though some locals disputed Gupta8217;s contention by saying the Swami had been seen in the district in the past four days, other observers said the authorities8217; decision to 8220;drive out8221; the Swami could trigger a fresh round of unrest in the Dangs, as he had a considerable following in the district.