Latest news with #Bhagavat
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Akhilesh Yadav's 'under the table' dig at Dhirendra Shastri amid kathavachak row
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday took potshots at self-styled godman Dhirendra Shastri, saying he takes money "under the table" when called over to read a katha at people's homes. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav jabbed Dhirendra Shastri.(File photo) Akhilesh Yadav's remarks came amid an ongoing uproar over the alleged humiliation of two Bhagavat 'kathavachaks' (religious storyteller) of the Yadav community in Uttar Pradesh's Etawah district. "There are many Kathavachaks who charge ₹ 50 lakh. Can anyone invite Dhirendra Shastri to their home for a katha? That baba will take money under the table. Please find out if he does or not. I'm sure he doesn't do it for free," Akhilesh Yadav can be heard saying in a video going viral. Dhirendra Shastri is a self-styled spiritual preacher who became a sensation over the past years. Until the time of writing this report, there has been no reaction from Dhirendra Shastri on Akhilesh Yadav's remarks. Row over kathavachaks Violence erupted in Etawah's Dandarpur village last week after two kathavachaks were allegedly humiliated, tonsured and forced to rub their noses at the feet of women, after villagers found out that they were not Brahmins. However, villagers alleged that the kathavachaks had concealed their identity when discussions were underway for their discourse in the area. According to an organiser who filed an FIR against the two kathavachaks, had their caste identity been disclosed earlier, they would not have been engaged. Reacting to the incident, Akhilesh Yadav had lashed out at the BJP, saying the party was attempting to divide Uttar Pradesh along caste lines. "The BJP is deploying its 'planted people' with strategic surnames from neighbouring states to carry out its infiltrative politics and disturb social harmony in Uttar Pradesh," Yadav was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. The incident had triggered widespread protests by members of the 'Ahir Regiment', a socio-cultural body. Violence erupted after members of the body protested outside the Bakewar police station and shouted slogans. While some were dispersed by the cops, others engaged in a heated exchange with security personnel, leading to violence. 'The force acted with restraint and reinforcement was called in,' said circle officer Atul Pradhan. Six people were detained in connection with the case.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Violence in Etawah after case against two ‘kathavachaks'
: Violence erupted in Etawah district on Thursday after the police registered a case against two Bhagavat kathavachaks (religious storytellers), accused of concealing their caste identity during a discourse at Dandarpur village. The FIR was filed on allegations of caste-based misconduct. It triggered widespread protests by members of the 'Ahir Regiment', a socio-cultural body, leading to road blockades, slogan-shouting and stone-pelting incidents. According to police officials familiar with the matters, the protesters began hurling stones when they were denied entry into the village. (For representation only) Tensions had been simmering since the two kathavachaks were allegedly humiliated during a Bhagavat katha on June 21 at Dandarpur after it emerged that they were Yadavs. The two were reportedly made to perform acts of penance, including being tonsured and forced to rub their noses at the feet of women — acts that sparked public outrage and calls for legal action. Police had earlier arrested six individuals over the incident. However, villagers demanded further action, alleging that the kathavachaks had concealed their identity during discussions around their engagement. On Thursday, police registered cases against Sant Singh Yadav and Mukut Singh Yadav. One of the organisers, Jai Prakash Tiwari, who lodged the FIR, stated that had their caste identity been disclosed earlier, they would not have been engaged for the discourse. Later in the day, over 300 members of the Ahir Regiment staged a protest outside the Bakewar police station. Shouting slogans, the demonstrators blocked the busy Kanpur-Agra highway, disrupting traffic for over an hour. Police personnel from Bakewar, Bharthana, Lavedhi and Usrahar were deployed to disperse the protesters. A section of the crowd dispersed on the police's arrival but several others moved towards Dandarpur village. They were intercepted on the Ludhiyani-Nibadikala Road, where a heated exchange with security personnel escalated into violence. According to police officials familiar with the matters, the protesters began hurling stones when they were denied entry into the village. Several police vehicles were damaged in the attack. 'The force acted with restraint and reinforcement was called in,' said circle officer Atul Pradhan, who was present at the scene, adding that the police were in the process of filing the FIR. The police have detained six persons in connection with the violence. There is a substantial police presence in and around Dandarpur now, where villagers have reportedly largely confined themselves indoors.
