Asaram Bapu case: JD(U) calls for end of blind faith, religious extremism

New Delhi: Janata Dal (United) leader Ali Anwar on Sunday lashed out at self-styled godman Asaram Bapu for allegedly indulging in heinous crimes like rape in the name of spirituality, and urged the investigating body to focus on Asaram`s political linkages to bring forth the truth in the cases against him.

"It is important to find out the political linkages of Asaram Bapu. All these spiritual leaders have political linkages, so it is important to find out who Asaram has links with," Anwar said. "This heinous crime, these kind of people are locked up in jail and are serving time then. Self-proclaimed godmen do such heinous crimes. The law is working the case out. In our society, rape goes unreported a lot of the time. A lot of victims hide it. But, that doesn`t go anywhere. It is piling up sins," he added. Anwar also urged the jail authorities to treat Asaram like any other prisoner of crime, and said that the case against the self-styled godman should trigger a movement against blind faith and religious extremism in the country because one could be easily duped. "People like him should be tried mercilessly, and they should serve the harshest time in jail-and be treated like any other criminal; he should not be given any privileges. ...It is unfortunate that they avail of special facilities because of their clout and money," Anwar said. "People get blinded by faith. ...There needs to be a movement in this country against blind faith and religious extremism of any kind," he added. In fresh trouble for controversial self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, two sisters from Surat have filed a rape case against him and his son Narayan Sai. According to reports, two sisters have lodged rape cases against Asaram and Narayan Sai alleging sexual assault between 2002 and 2004. According to the FIR, Asaram raped the elder sister at Ahmedabad ashram and his son raped the younger one in Surat between 2002-04. Asaram, 72, was arrested on September 1, on allegations of sexual assault on a minor at his ashram in Jodhpur and is currently in jail. Asaram has been booked under Sections 376, 342, 506 and 509 of the IPC, Section 8 of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act ( POCSO ) and Sections 23 and 26 of the Juvenile Justice Act. Besides the summons served on Asaram Bapu, notices have also been issued to the manager of the Chhindwara gurukul in Madhya Pradesh, the hostel warden and the main caretaker of Asaram, who was present at Manai Ashram in Jodhpur on August 15, when the alleged sexual assault took place there. ANI