Religious leader arrested for insulting Mahatma Gandhi

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that the arrest of religious leader Kalicharan Maharaj was made as per procedure, and the state police violated no rules.

The Chhattisgarh Police arrested Kalicharan Maharaj from Khajuraho for his alleged derogatory remarks against Mahatma Gandhi. Speaking to Indian media, Baghel said, "If somebody uses indecent language towards Mahatma Gandhi, action will be taken against him, and Chhattisgarh Police has done the same. Kalicharan Maharaj's family and lawyer have been informed about his arrest by Chhattisgarh police. He will be presented before the court within 24 hours."

The Madhya Pradesh Home Minister had objected to the manner of the arrest and directed the Director-General of Police to seek clarification from his Chhattisgarh counterpart.

" We have an objection to the manner in which the arrest was made by the Chhattisgarh Police. The Congress government in Chhattisgarh should not have violated the interstate protocol. They should have informed us. If they wanted, they could have issued notice him notice and called him."

A seven-member team of Raipur Police arrested the accused in Khajuraho at around 4 am on December 30.

Responding to the objection of Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra, Baghel said, "Narottam should tell whether he is happy or sad about the arrest of the person who derogated Mahatma Gandhi? No rules have been violated and arrest made by Chhattisgarh police as per procedures."

Chhattisgarh Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu also slammed Mishra and said that a criminal has been arrested, so he should not object to it.

(ANI)