Madhya Pradesh ex-chief minister and state Congress chief Kamal Nath on Monday visited the Bageshwar Dham – a religious centre in Chhatarpur district - that has remained in news during the past few months owing to statements and actions of its head Dhirendra Krishna Shastri.
Speaking briefly to media persons at the religious centre, Nath said that India functions according to its Constitution. “Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar made the Constitution and it will remain the Constitution of India,” Nath said in a reply to questions on statements of Shastri regarding ‘Hindu Rashtra’. Nath also met Krishna Shastri during his visit.
Shastri, a young religious personality who has seen a meteoric rise in recent times, has repeatedly supported the concept of ‘Hindu Rashtra’. Even a week-long programme that commenced at Bageshwar Dham on Monday on occasion of Mahashivaratri (February 18) is being conducted to seek ‘global welfare and Hindu Rashtra’, Shastri had told media persons on Sunday.
There have been questions on the decision of Kamal Nath to visit the Bageshwar Dham when several Congress leaders including leader of opposition in State Assembly Govind Singh have raised questions on Shastri’s claims of miracles. Nath has however said that the visit was a matter of his personal faith.
On Monday, too, Nath told media persons that he had come to the Dham to seek blessings of Lord Hanuman. He said that he is a big devotee of Lord Hanuman and has set up the tallest idol (101 feet) of the Lord in his hometown Chhindwara. “I prayed for the safety of Madhya Pradesh to Lord Hanuman. I also prayed that we all together should be able to take upon the challenges facing the state,” he said. He added that ‘baba’ (Shastri) gave blessings to him and he blesses everyone.
Later, speaking to media persons in detail in Ajaygarh of Panna district where he also addressed a public meeting in view of the upcoming polls, Nath repeated that he went to Bageshwar Dham as he was a devotee of Lord Hanuman. “I wanted to offer prayers to Bhagwan Bajrangbali before coming here,” he said.
Nath also said again that the country functions according to its Constitution and the basic ethos of the Constitution was that there should be coordination between all sections of society.
State BJP chief Vishnu Dutt Sharma has attacked Nath over his visit to Bageshwar Dham saying that it exposes the double face of Nath and Congress. “Not only the state, but the entire country wants to know whether you (Nath) will take any action against Govind Singh who has been attacking Bageshwar Dham? Will you ask him to apologise or apologise on his behalf?” Sharma asked.
Attacks BJP government
In Panna, Nath attacked the BJP government led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan, saying that the BJP has a government in the state since past 215 months and Chouhan has been a chief minister for 190 months and yet he (Chouhan) was seeking accountability of the 15-month government headed by him (Nath).
“They are not able to account for the 215 months of rule and are now taking out ‘Vikas Yatra’ by misusing government machinery. If the people were with them, would they have to take out such a yatra? This is BJP’s ‘nikas yatra’ (exit rally),” Nath said while talking about the 20-day mass connectivity programme taken up by the BJP government.
