Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
News from ARES

Panaji, Jul 28: Sanatan saunstha, a spiritual institution, has charged the government of harassing its disciples in the name of checkings and patrollings.
 
The activities of this institution, spread across Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka besides various other parts of country, are put under scanner after mild bomb blasts in June at Mumbai's Gadakari Rangayatan.

"Police are constantly visiting homes and places where our disciples meet and discuss about spirituality. We hold satsang often to spread the spirituality. The instances of police personnel questioning our followers, disciples and well wishers are on rise," Virendra Marathe, a trustee of Sanatan Saunstha, when contacted,  stated.

The organization which preaches social upliftment, national defence and spreading spirituality saw itself in bad light after two of its activists were arrested for Gadkari Rangayatan bomb blasts.

"We have already clarified that the institution has nothing to do with the blasts. We never support violence. In fact, we have stood for national pride and its prosperity," Marathe said.

Interestingly, the institution officials contend that they have been facing the harassment also in Maharashtra where activists are called to the police stations and questioned.

Marathe said that the courier, which is addressed to their ashram at Ramnathi in North Goa, was also opened in the pretext of security check. "The courier was sent to one of our disciple from his family, which was opened in Panaji," he stated.

The institution has said that their activities are restricted to the spirituality and have been holding various weekly satsangs at various places, which are voluntarily offered by the well wishers.

"The disciples have to face various questions from the policemen who keep a watch on their activities," Marathe said.

The state police, on the other hand, has ruled out the charges of harassment. "The checkings are conducted as a part of beat system, which has been activated. We have nothing against the institution," Mahesh Gaonkar, deputy superintendent of police, stated.

He said that nationally the scenario is volatile and hence the police have kept a strict watch on all the activities.