Asaram Bapu should be punished if found guilty: BJP leader

Zee Media Bureau/Biplob Ghosal

New Delhi: As pitch for taking action against Asaram Bapu grows louder in the political circle, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader CP Thakur has said that if the godman is found guilty then he must be punished. Speaking to a news agency, Thakur said that a thorough investigation must take place and if Asaram Bapu is found guilty then he must be punished. Asaram Bapu has been accused by a 16-year-old girl of sexually assaulting her at his ashram in Rajasthan`s Jodhpur city. Janata Dal (United) leader Ali Anwar yesterday had Asaram Bapu a `cheater`, and accused the BJP of using self-styled godmen in the country to serve their own political interests. Left party leader Brinda Karat accused the Gehlot government of going soft on Asaram and said that by not taking action against the self-styled godman the state government is sending out a message that if one has clout he can get away by committing such acts. Shiromani Akali Dal leader Devinder Singh too was very critical of the godman and demanded immediate arrest of Asaram and his aide Neelam Dubey. The 16-year-old girl, who has accused the spiritual leader of sexually assaulting her at his ashram in Jodhpur, hails from Uttar Pradesh.