Monday, December 27, 2004

Swamy sees ``international conspiracy'' behind arrest

VELLORE, DEC. 26. There is an "international conspiracy" behind the arrest of the Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, according to the Janata Party president, Subramanian Swamy.

Addressing a public meeting organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad here on Sunday demanding the release of the Acharya, Dr. Swamy said the arrest was a "threat to the nation" and wanted Muslims and Christians to join the VHP agitation, as what happened to the Kanchi Acharya could happen to their leaders too. He would participate in all VHP agitations till the Acharya was released.

Referring to the statement of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, in the Assembly that the arrest had reinforced her Government's resolve that "all are equal before law," Dr. Swamy wanted to know why the AIADMK Government had not applied the same principle in the case relating to the burning to death of three girls in a bus in Dharmapuri about three years ago.

He said the Acharya should be shifted to a bungalow, as there were precedents of men in high position such as Sheikh Abdullah and L.K. Advani, having been kept in such places after arrest.

S. Vedantham, international vice-president of VHP, regretted that the Acharya's arrest had not created any emotion among Hindus even 45 days after the arrest.

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