Amrita mutt wealth: Azhikode demands probe

Kollam: Eminent litterateur of India Sukumar Azhikode Saturday wanted the government to probe the source of foreign aid received by the Mata Amritanandamayi Mutt( self styled hindu 'hugging saint') as part of the ongoing drive to expose spiritual rackets.

Addressing reporters here, he said the Mata was an ordinary person and was being used as an instrument by vested interests around her.

There should be comprehensive inquiry into the foreign aid flowing to the Mutt. Social welfare and charitable activities undertaken by many spiritual institutions were often used as a cover to hide their fraudulent dealings, he said.

Azhikode was reacting to an attack on him by pro-Sangh Parivar Lawyers' Parishad against his statements on Swamis and spiritual trusts.

Responding to the Parishad's demand for a probe into his assets, Azhikode said he was not a public servant and Income Tax department could verify his income.

"God is on my side. What I am asking is that there should be steps against self-styled Godmen and spiritual rackets," he said on the sidelines of a book release function here.

There has been a run on spiritual rackets in the state following the arrest of Santhosh Madhavan alias Amritachaitanya for allegedly sexually molesting minor girls and amassing illegal wealth a month back.

In another town in Kerala,Kozhikode: The city on Tuesday witnessed another violent incident, the second of this week when Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP-world Hindu council) workers clashed with the police during a protest march taken out by the activists of Yuvajana Vedi to the Mata Amritanandamayi Math at Vellimadukunnu here.

The police resorted to lathicharge when around 250 VHP activists pelted them with stones and blocked vehicles on the Wayanad Road. VHP activists had gathered in front of the Math to prevent the Vedi activists from entering the religious centre. The former went on rampage after the Vedi workers, numbering 50 and including seven women, had dispersed from the scene.

Vedi’s protest

The Vedi had taken a march to the Math to protest against the “commercialisation of spiritualism and the links between mafia and religious leaders in the State.” A large posse of police personnel led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (North) C.M. Pradipkumar blocked the activists near the Chevayur police station. Vehicular traffic was disrupted for more than an hour on the route.

The Chevayur police took five VHP activists, Anilkumar, Jublileesh, Babu, Radhakrishnan and Rajesh into custody in connection with the incident. They were produced before the Judicial First Class Magistrate’s Court and released on bail.

The CPI (M) State secretariat member K.N. Ajoikumar who inaugurated the march demanded that the State government investigate into the source of funds of the VHP and other Sangh Parivar organisations. CPI (ML) district secretary P.T. Haridas and Yuva Jana Vedi State president P.K. Priyeshkumar addressed the protesters.