Lucknow: A self-styled priest from Ayodhya who’s beforehand been linked to many an issue has introduced a money reward for anybody who “beheads” Congress chief Salman Khurshid, after the latter’s remarks that included a point out of Hindu god Ram landed him within the crosshairs of Hindutva outfits.
On Tuesday, a video of Raju Das, by which he declared a reward of Rs 21 crore for the top of the previous Union minister, went viral. Asking why Khurshid didn’t examine Rahul with the Prophet, Das claimed that had the Congress chief performed that, the individuals of his personal neighborhood would have beheaded him.
Amid the backlash, Khurshid has claimed that he by no means mentioned “Rahul Gandhi is Ram”, however that he “is strolling on the trail of Ram”.
Raju Das, who was previously related to the scholar wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), was within the information not too long ago for his name to burn down theatres screening Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Pathaan.
In July, the priest had brazenly threatened filmmaker Leena Manimekalai over the poster of her film Kaali. He had even introduced a money prize of Rs 11 lakh in September to anybody who units afire a rape accused in Jharkhand’s Dumka.
Raju Das is a disciple of Mahant Ram Das, one of many mahants of the 4 ‘pattis’ (faculties) of monks who take care of Ayodhya’s Hanuman Garhi temple in turns. At current, the temple’s primary presiding priest is Sant Prem Das of the Sagriya patti. Raju Das is the mahant of the Ujjainiya patti.
Raju Das arrived in Ayodhya at a really younger age, practiced asceticism and have become a disciple of Sant Ram Das, mentioned Sumit Tiwari, district president (youth) of the Chanakya Parishad — an Ayodhya-based outfit that claims to work for Brahmins.
“He has accomplished his BA, MA and LLB from the KS Saket put up graduate faculty. He was related to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (RSS scholar wing) since his scholar days. He continues to be energetic in politics since early 2000s and visits all programmes of the neighborhood wherever he will get invited,” Tiwari informed ThePrint.
In Could, Raju Das, as head of Hindu Suraksha Seva Belief, mentioned the outfit’s purpose is to guard and save the Hindu faith.
He even has political ambitions. Forward of the 2017 municipal polls in Uttar Pradesh, Raju Das featured within the listing of 12 possible mayoral candidates of the BJP in Ayodhya.
ThePrint reached out to the self-styled priest by way of calls and messages in search of remark, however didn’t obtain a response. This report will likely be up to date when a response is obtained.
Additionally Learn: Nawabs’ nemesis, SP’s Muslim face & ‘sexist’ — Azam Khan’s political rollercoaster journey
‘Yeh bhagoda hai’
When the BJP declared Rishikesh Upadhyay (the present mayor) as its candidate for the 2017 polls, a miffed Raju Das joined the Shiv Sena. Nonetheless, the Sena’s UP unit claimed that regardless of being given a ballot ticket, he backstabbed to affix the ruling BJP.
“When the BJP denied him a ticket, he reached out to us at 1.30 am and sought a ticket. We obliged. He took the Shiv Sena membership however backstabbed us. Inside days, footage of Raju Das sitting on the toes of the UP CM went viral. Yeh bhagoda hai (he’s a runaway). I’m but to get his resignation and formally, he continues to be a Shiv Sainik. He has no character. How can somebody who just isn’t trustworthy to the occasion be trustworthy to the faith?” Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) state unit secretary Vishvajeet Singh informed ThePrint.
ABVP’s Ayodhya unit organisation secretary Aman Mishra informed ThePrint that Raju Das was an ABVP employee in his scholar days and runs the Hindu Suraksha Seva Belief outfit.
In Ayodhya and on social media, posters of Raju Das figuring out himself because the ‘bhavi pratyashi’ (future candidate) for the put up of Ayodhya mayor have gone viral. However the Uttar Pradesh authorities has reserved the seat for a feminine candidate.
“The seat was reserved however he (Raju Das) had been posing as a possible candidate. Nonetheless, the excessive court docket has requested the federal government to go forward with the polls with out the OBC reservation and so the state of affairs is unclear. However we’re of the opinion that feminine reservation will stay. In that case, a male candidate can not combat the polls from the seat,” BJP’s Ayodhya Mahanagar president Abhishek Mishra informed ThePrint.
Additionally Learn: Savarkar by no means provided a transparent definition of Venture Hindutva. A brand new guide reveals that once more
Lively on social media
Whereas the Sena claims Raju Das is its member, a take a look at his profile on social media leaves no room for doubt relating to the place his allegiance lies.
On his Fb and Instagram accounts, Raju Das had uploaded footage with UP BJP basic secretary (organisation) Dharampal Singh, UP Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray in addition to a number of UP BJP leaders.
In one among his Fb posts, Raju Das mentions how the opposition to the Agnipath scheme is the opposition to the Agniveers of the longer term who “will likely be able to combat them” (a purported reference to Muslims).
In one other put up, he expresses remorse that over 30 Muslim candidates received within the UP polls. “CM Yogi Adityanath ji maharaj saved Uttar Pradesh from turning into Pakistan however it’s unlucky and I’m ashamed of those that helped them (Muslim candidates) win,” he mentioned in a put up on 12 March, sharing the listing of the victorious Muslim candidates.
In December 2019, Raju Das introduced that anybody who murders a rapist will likely be rewarded with Rs 1 lakh in addition to assured free training if any policeman does it. These remarks have been made in his evaluation of the way to cope with rising crimes in opposition to ladies.
Das was additionally amongst those that had defended BJP chief Nupur Sharma when she confronted flak for her remarks on Prophet Muhammad.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
Additionally Learn: ‘Miracles’, caste & now, crackdowns: The within story of Christian ‘conversions’ in UP’s Fatehpur