JALANDHAR: As Sangh Parivar organizations and frontal organizations of BJP and other right-wing Hindu organizations protested against the ban on 84-Kosi Yatra by UP government, they also jumped in support of Asaram Bapu who has been booked in a rape case. They claimed that Hindu sants, who are socially active and are working against conversions, were being targeted by the Congress government.

Organizations including VHP and Bajrang Dal staged a dharna outside district administration complex and leaders lectured in support of Asaram Bapu holding that he was being falsely implicated and defamed. It turned to be a protest with twin purposes — against the ban on VHP supported Sant Yatra and against the case slapped on Asaram Bapu. The latter issue dominated the demonstration as dozens of women and girls were carrying placards implicitly in support of Asaram.

The speakers argued that while the Hindu sants who were simply meditating and were not getting involved in any social affairs, they were not being touched by the Congress government but those who were socially active, were carrying out various social projects or were working for awakening among Hindus were being targeted. The speakers also added that these sants are also working against conversions and by implicating them in false cases, those in power wanted to keep the field clear for Chirstian missionaries. They praised Asaram Bapu for various social welfare projects.

Apart from VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders, the other leaders who spitted fire against Christian missionaries and "their supporters in Congress government" included former Punjab Gau Sewa Board chairman, senior BJP leader Kimti Bhagat, BJP SC Morcha general secretary Sheetal Angural, Punjab BJP cultural cell convener Krishan Lal Sharma, along with leaders of other Hindu organizations like Hind Kranti Dal, and Hindu Jagriti Manch.

They said that earlier the Congress government targeted Baba Ramdev.

They also submitted a memorandum addressed to President, Prime Minister and information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari, in which they held that anti-national and anti-religion forces were behind the Asaram episode. They demanded that Tewari's ministry, where forces were involved in maligning Assa Ram, should get probed. They claimed that these forces were enjoying foreign support.