The Hindu : National : Singhal wants Acharya shifted to another State

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Thursday, Dec 02, 2004

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National

Singhal wants Acharya shifted to another State

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, DEC. 1. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) international working president, Ashok Singhal, today reiterated the demand for shifting the jailed Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayandra Saraswathi, from Tamil Nadu to another State.

Launching a weeklong fast programme at Vellore to protest against the arrest, Mr. Singhal said the Acharya might face a threat to his life if detained in the State. Another reason was to enable the Acharya to face a "fair trial."

Mr. Singhal, who was not allowed to meet the Acharya, said he only wanted to enquire about his health.

Meets junior Acharya

Our Kancheepuram Staff Reporter writes:

Mr. Singhal today claimed that "some greater pressure" had influenced the decisions of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, in the Sankararaman murder case.

Talking to reporters after calling on the junior Sankaracharya, Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi, at the Kanchi Mutt here, he said there might have been differences between Ms. Jayalalithaa and Sri Jayendra Saraswathi. "But I know for certain that she has no animosity against the Swamiji."

Mr. Singhal alleged that some Central leaders had exerted pressure on Ms. Jayalalithaa on the issue. "Probably, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister might not be knowing that there is a foreign hand in this entire game. There is a lot of politics and religion behind this."

On Ms. Jayalalithaa's observation that "when the trial takes place, the truth will come out," he said: "Definitely. So many people are being implicated in this case. But Kadiravan has retracted and another lady, Usha, has explained her so-called involvement in this case. It only shows that the police are not even able to fabricate any case against the Acharya."

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