Swami Ashimananda likely to surface at religious function today

Swami Ashimananda Maharaj, who vanished after coming under the scanner of Mumbai police8217;s Anti Terror Squad ATS in connection with th...

Swami Ashimananda Maharaj, who vanished after coming under the scanner of Mumbai police8217;s Anti Terror Squad ATS in connection with the Malegaon bomb blast, may turn up to rub shoulders with prominent local leaders of the RSS, VHP, BJP and other Sangh Parivar outfits on Thursday.

He will inaugurate a nine-day Ramkatha event in Tapi district on Thursday and also be the chief guest at the high profile event, according to the organisers, Ramkatha Sewa Samithi of Vyara.

The Swami would share the dais with prominent leaders like Vijay Patel, BJP MLA of Dangs, Hitendra Upadhyay, BJP general secretary of Tapi, Mansinh Patel, BJP district president of Surat, Mahuwa Mohan Dodiya, former BJP MLA of Mahua, VHP leader Bhagu Gamit, Mahipal Thakur, district president of Gujarat Dharma Jagran Manch Dangs, Jayanti Kewat, senior BJP leader in Navsari, and many others.

The Swami hit the headlines recently when the ATS raided his ashram in the Dangs district in connection with the Malegaon blast. The police also revealed that he was in touch with prime suspect Sadhvi Pragya Thakur. He went underground immediately and no one really knows his whereabouts ever since.

Nevertheless, the organisers appear unfazed by it. They have been busy distributing elaborate invitation cards for the event showing the Swami as chief guest. 8220;We have seen Swami Ashimanandji8217;s name in the newspapers. But he is innocent. Our own sources have had a talk with him and he has assured that he would definitely attend the inaugural function. He will remain with us for sometime at the venue and then leave,8221; said Narsinh Choudhary, president of Ramkatha Ayojak Samithi, which proposes to use the funds generated from the event to build a Hanuman temple at Chunarwadi village.

The event is expected to draw a huge crowd. The invitation cards are being distributed in most talukas of Surat, Navsari, Valsad and Dangs districts. 8220;We expect a huge turnout and have made elaborate arrangements for accommodation and other facilities,8221; said Ranjeet Choudhary of the Samithi.

Newsline contacted some of the invited guests for the programme. Former Congress MLA and MP from Vyara in Surat district, Amarsinh Z Choudhary, said: 8220;My name appears on the invitation and the organisers had contacted me earlier for the function. They, however, have done a wrong thing by inviting only VHP, RSS and BJP leaders as guests. I am in Ahmedabad to attend a private function so I will not attend the event.8221;

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Ex-BJP MLA Mahuwa Mohan Dodiya said: 8220;The event will be a good thing for the tribal area. The tribals should know the Hindu religion, as they are our brothers. Swami Ashimanand Maharaj is very close to me and I had met him at Sabridham in the Dangs two years ago. He is my closest friend. He has a good nature and is a great orator. He has worked a lot for the development of the tribals and was also involved in re-conversion. We have full faith in him and he is not involved in any anti-national activity. I am sure that he will attend the function.8221;

Vijay Patel, BJP MLA from the Dangs, said: 8220;We are happy that somebody is doing a good job in spreading Hindu religion among tribals. I will not attend the function, as I have to attend a party meeting at Dharampur village. I will also be busy with my party workers for the upcoming elections. If I get time, I will attend the function. I know Swami Ashimanandaji Maharaj and he is a down-to-earth person. He has done a lot of work for the tribal people. I have full faith in him. I was also present during the Sabri Kumbh Mela and had come very close to him. I do not want to say anything about his attendance of the Ramkatha.8221;