Hindu religious leaders meet President

Author: PTI
Publication: The Hindu

Stepping up their campaign in support of the jailed Kanchi Shankaracharya, a delegation of Hindu religious leaders today met President A P J Abdul Kalam and demanded his intervention to secure the pontiff's release.

The 18-member delegation, which also included VHP leaders Ashok Singhal and Vishnu Hari Dalmia, also demanded a "fair and impartial" CBI probe into the case and shifting of trial outside Tamil Nadu.

"We requested the President to personally intervene in the matter and direct the Union Government to secure immediate release of the Seer," Mahant Gyan Das, head of the Akhara Parishad, an umbrella organisation of religious leaders, told reporters here emerging out of the 15-minute meeting with Kalam.

Mahamandleshwar Avdeshananda of Juna Akhara said the delegation told Kalam that many countries have special procedures to deal with religious leaders in such situations.

The religious leaders, apprising the President of the demand by some Left Parties to acquire Hindu religious institutions and temples and bring them under the tax net, conveyed their strident opposition to it.

"The President assured us that he would take appropriate action," the Juna Akhara Chief said.