BJP to take seer's case to Kalam

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday threw its weight behind Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati, who has been arrested  in connection with a murder case in Tamil Nadu.

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BJP chief Lal Kishenchand Advani and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee have sought an appointment with President A P J Abdul Kalam to present the seer's case.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, BJP spokesperson Sushma Swaraj accused the Jayalalithaa led-All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government in Tamil Nadu of framing the seer.

She declared that the BJP is breaking all its ties with the AIADMK.

"I charge the AIADMK government and the Central government with defaming dharmacharya Shankarcharya by sending him to police custody. This is an insult and assult on the Hindu religion and BJP will agitate against it," Swaraj said.

She said Vajpayee and Advani have sought a meeting with the Shankaracharya.

"Swamiji is being treated more as a convicted criminal than as just an accused. This has hurt the sentiments of crores of people in this country, for whom the Kanchi Peethan is a holy institution. We hold the government of Tamil Nadu directly responsible for any ill treatment meted out to Swamiji in the police custody," Swaraj said.

She claimed that her party is receiving angry calls from its workers and Hindu leaders agitated by the Shankaracharya's arrest.

"An emergency meeting of the BJP's top leadership was held at the residence of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Friday morning and it was decided that the party will organise agitations for three days in all parts of the country. Advaniji will lead a fast on the first day at Patel Chowk [in Delhi] on Saturday. Dr Murali Manohar Joshi and Jaswant Singh will fast the next two days. Vajpayeeji will be present at the conclusion of the dharna and upvas on Monday," she said.