Patna, Sept 24: Union Minister Sanjay Paswan's gesture of honouring 51 witch doctors, occultists, sorcerers and faith healers has raised a controversy with RJD Chief Laloo Prasad Yadav demanding that he be sacked from the Vajpayee Ministry for promoting superstition among people. "Sanjay Paswan should be immediately sacked from the Union Ministry for flouting the provisions of the prevention of witchcraft practices act, 1999 of Bihar and for spreading superstition among the people," Yadav told reporters here. When the world is laying stress on development of a scientific temperament, Paswan, Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development, "is busy patronising superstition in society," he said and described the minister's gesture "as part of BJP's 'Dhong' (ploy) to befool the masses." During a function here on Monday to honour Ojhas, Gunis, Vaidyas, Pandas, Pirs and Bhagats, Paswan walked on embers barefoot and brandished swords to the delight of sorcerers and faith healers. He had also announced that his ministry would open two Centres in Patna and Darbhanga for research in faith healing skills.
Bureau Report