No part for Centre in seer arrest: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday denied any role of the Centre in the arrest of Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati. ‘‘We have nothing to do with the arrest of Swamiji and the Centre has no interest in the matter,’’ he said. On the Sangh Parivar’s criticism that the Centre was responsible for the midnight arrest, Singh said: ‘‘It is not true. The Centre has never been in the picture at all.’’

BJP sniffs vendetta
LUCKNOW: The state BJP joined the protest against the Kanchi Shankaracharya’s arrest, saying it smacked of political vendetta. BJP Legislature Party leader Lalji Tandon on Sunday said the Shankaracharya was arrested only because he was gradually emerging as a bridge between the Hindu and Muslim religious leaders, to reach a consensus on the Ayodhya temple. This new role of Shankaracharya did not suit the political interests of some and therefore the arrest, said Tandon. This is why even Muslim leaders have not spoken in favour of this move by the Tamil Nadu government.

‘International hand’
CHENNAI: The Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Bhakthargal Peravai, a front of devotees, on Sunday alleged an international conspiracy to tarnish the ‘‘good name of the seer’’.He also alleged that some politicians had ‘‘conspired to fabricate the case against the Shankaracharya with an eye on the vast properties of the Math’’.

Pal wants ADMK out
LUCKNOW: Former UPCC president Jagadambika Pal on Sunday asked BJP to expel AIADMK from the NDA over the ‘‘unjustified’’ arrest of Saraswati. The Tamil Nadu government is ‘‘responsible’’ for the arrest, not the Centre, he said. —ENS & Agencies