May 18, 2023

The ‘Jan Chetna Maha Rally’ in Ayodhya, the epicenter of Hindutva politics, comes weeks after Delhi Police filed two FIRs against the MP in connection with harassment allegations. Text Size: A+ Lucknow: Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is facing sexual harassment charges from Indian wrestlers, is organising a ‘Jan Chetna Maha Rally’ in Ayodhya, the epicenter of Hindutva politics, on 5 June, where seers from all over north India have been invited. The rally follows Brij Bhushan’s meetings with seers in Ayodhya, where he has spent most of his student days, and with members of Rajput community, wrestling groups of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, and leaders of akharas across Ayodhya. The event, which appears to be a show of strength, comes weeks after Delhi Police filed two FIRs against the MP in connection with the wrestlers’ allegations. One of the FIRs deals with the alleged harassment of a minor. Brij Bhushan has denied all allegations. On Thursday, Brij Bhushan shared a poster of the upcoming event on his Facebook page, saying that seers are “calling upon the public to participate”. “Param poojya sant mahapurushon ka aavhahan, 5 June Ayodhya chalo, Jan chetna maharally, sathiyon apka Ayodhya me swagat hai (Respected saints request your presence in Ayodhya on 5 June for Jan Chetna Maha Rally…),” Singh wrote. Speaking to ThePrint, Brij Bhushan’s representative Sanjeev Singh said that arrangements for the rally are being made by the MP’s team, but it is being held under the leadership of saints and seers. “Saints from across the country, especially north India, social outfits and jurists and advisers are being invited,” he added. “Social groups of all castes and communities are being invited. Saints from across Ayodhya, MP, Rajasthan, Punjab, Delhi, Gujarat, etc are being invited. The invites are being sent by the saints themselves, we are only making arrangements,” he said. Asked about the purpose of the mega rally, Sanjeev Singh said it was not a show of strength, but its motive was to emphasise that “law should not become a tool of harassment”. “A committee of saints is organising the rally,” he added. “A meeting of the committee will be held soon.” Who will attend? Asked about the seers likely to be in attendance, Sanjeev Singh said all from Ayodhya’s akharas will be there, including Mahant Gyan Das, head of one of the four pattis (streams or schools) of the famous Hanumangarhi temple of Ayodhya. Raju Das of the Hanumangarhi temple will also be present in all likelihood, he added. The Hanumangarhi temple is looked after by four pattis of seers, which take over the work of the temple in turns. Speaking to ThePrint, Hemant Das, a disciple of Mahant Gyan Das, said the latter’s schedule will be confirmed in a day or two. “Mahant Gyan Das ji has saved his (Brij Bhushan’s) life and donated his blood to him. Mahant ji helped him (Brij Bhushan) during his study days and got him married too,” Das said. “The former keeps on visiting Ayodhya and takes blessings from mahant ji frequently. He recently came to Ayodhya and met mahant ji. As of now, mahant ji’s schedule is not confirmed but it will be confirmed in a day or two.” Bhushan is said to have met Mahant Gyan Das and other seers in Ayodhya on 5 May. Mahant Satyendra Das, the chief priest of the Ram Janmabhoomi who has been serving the Ram Lalla idol for over 30 years, told ThePrint that he was yet to get an invite for the event. “I have not got an invite yet. I will think about it once I get it,” he said. Self-styled seer Raju Das, who is a disciple of Mahant Ram Das, one of the mahants of the three other pattis of Hamumangarhi temple, claimed that he had no information about the event. “I have no information about the event so I can’t comment on it,” said Raju Das, who has earlier been in the headlines for declaring “rewards” for the murder of a man who set a Dumka minor on fire, as well as for Congress leader Salman Khurshid. Support for Brij Bhushan Soon after the khaps of Haryana and farmer outfits expressed their support for the wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar, some outfits of the Rajput community have come out in the MP’s support, alleging politicisation of the issue, and warning against the issue taking on caste connotations . On 3 May, Brij Bhushan visited the Jaipur residence of Lokendra Kalvi, the head of the fringe group Karni Sena (which claims to represent the Rajputs) who died in March this year. There, he addressed a mahapanchayat organised by the outfit.