Lucknow: Vishwa Hindu Parishad's (VHP) international president Ashok Singhal Wednesday accused the police of conspiring against self-styled spiritual guru Asaram Bapu, facing charges of paedophilia and child abuse, and demanded immediate removal of the Gujarat police chief.
"Asaram Bapu is being victimized. The saints would not tolerate it at any cost and will take to the streets if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Gujarat fails to take action against the DGP (Director General of Police S.S. Khandawawala)," Singhal told reporters in Allahabad, some 200 km from Lucknow.
"If this continues, the saints might have no other option than to take a collective decision against the BJP and its leaders, including Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, at the upcoming Kumbh Mela in Haridwar," he added.
Asaram Bapu is in the thick of controversy over allegations of paedophilia and child abuse in his orphan homes in Gujarat and elsewhere.
A police complaint of attempt to murder has also been lodged against him by one of his former disciple Raju Chandok.
