PM writes to Jaya: Handle His Holiness with extreme care

A day after BJP president L K Advani cited the Kanchi Shankaracharya’s arrest as an example of the Hindu faith under attack, Prime Mini...

A day after BJP president L K Advani cited the Kanchi Shankaracharya’s arrest as an example of the Hindu faith under attack, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa to ensure that ‘‘investigations involving a person of his eminence’’ are conducted ‘‘with extreme care and consideration’’.

In a letter to Jayalalithaa today, Singh, who earlier made it clear that the Centre had no role in the Shankaracharya’s arrest, wrote: ‘‘His Holiness enjoys a high religious status and position in society. Investigations involving a person of his eminence need to be conducted with extreme care and consideration.’’

He pointed out that Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati keeps ‘‘indifferent health’’ and said ‘‘all such measures’’ should be taken to ensure his ‘‘physical well-being’’.

Noting that the Shankaracharya was arrested by the Tamil Nadu police in connection with investigations into the murder of a former employee of the Kanchi mutt, the Prime Minister said it was important for the law to take its own course.

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‘‘I believe that the Government of Tamil Nadu has had to take this extreme step of arresting Swamiji keeping in view the gravity of the allegations against His Holiness in the murder case.’’

‘‘Whereas it is extremely important that due processes of law must not be interfered with and that law must be allowed to take its own course, it is also relevant to note that Swamiji keeps indifferent health.’’

Stating he was aware that investigations into the murder case were still underway, he said sentiments of many individuals were associated with the well-being of the Shankaracharya.

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