Page 28 - June2018

The rape victim who spent con- decision to withdraw 20,000 cases chief minister himself from various
siderable time in the captivity of of breach of peace and violation of courts of justice.
the ashram alleged that at least, 20 prohibitory orders against politi- Apprehending threat to her life
victims like her are made to stay in cians across party lines. from the former minister, she said,
different ashrams. It is important to note that on “I feel serious threat to my life from
“There were many women who 22 December 2018, UP assembly Chinmayanand and his aides. They
stayed there and were forced to passed UP Criminal Law (Compo- can attack me or my child anytime. I
marry employees after five years. sition of offences and Abatement want this case to be transferred out
They were mum because their hus- of Trials) Amendment Bill, 2017, of the state at the earliest.” Despite
bands were weak and dependent on that also facilitated withdrawal of several attempts, the former union
the ashrams. A 15-year-old Nepali pending criminal cases against the state minister could not make him-
self available for comments in
his defence. Even his disciples
are tight-lipped to refute the
victim’s charges.
Political observers have
drawn a parallel between
Asaram Bapu case of Gujarat
and Swami Chinmayanand
case.
“Despite a favourable
government of Narendra
Modi, the government never
thought of withdrawing such
serious criminal charges
against Asaram but, the UP
CM crossed all limits of fair-
ness and justice to the rape
victim,” said social scientist
Prof. Harshvarhan expressing
his concern.
Samajwadi Party leader
Mohd. Azam Khan taking a
jibe at the ruling BJP govern-
ment questioned, “Why only
Chinmayanand? The govern-
ment should withdraw rape
cases lodged against Asaram
and Gurmeet Ram Rahim.
• Presence girl told me that Chinmayananda People should stop taking cogni-
must The court had touched her. I contacted her The rape victim who zance of rape cases.’’
also directed mother and she took her away,” said spent considerable The UP plans to withdraw rape
Chinma- the victim. and kidnapping cases against
yananda to The government never reached time in the Swami Chinmayanand. Opposition
be present in to her for her version before de- captivity of the parties are questioning the intent
the court on ciding to withdraw the case. “Yogi of the government. “The much-
the next date Adityanath had lunch with Chin- ashram of Swami publicised Beti Padao-Beti Bachao
of hearing on mayananda at his house in Shah- (Educate Daughter-Save Daughter)
July 12. jahanpur and there was a photo Chinmayanand is merely a hollow slogan of BJP to
session too. It clearly shows their alleged that at least play with people’s sentiments and it
good relations. There is a difference has no faith in rule of law,” said UP
between withdrawing a rape case 20 victims like her Congress spokesman Amar Nath
and one related to the demonstra- are made to stay in Agrawal.
tion,” she quipped, referring to the
UP government’s December 2017 different ashrams letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 15 june 2018 28 www.Tehelka.com

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