Author:
Publication: Sify News
Date: November 16, 2004
URL: http://sify.com/news/politics/fullstory.php?id=13611481
NDA convener George Fernandes on
Tuesday lashed out at the way Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswathi was arrested
and said all kinds of human rights had been violated with the Shankaracharya's
arrest.
After calling on the seer at the
central prison in Vellore, he told reporters: "There is human rights violation
in many ways. The Supreme Court has given a decision as to how to deal
with such persons. Apart from the Supreme Court decision and his own status
as a religious head, the way he has been arrested defied every norm of
investigation."
The meeting lasted for nearly 30
minutes.
Pointing out that the seer was in
good health and good spirits, Fernandes said, "The way the pontiff was
arrested and treated defies all norms. There has to be some decency and
the arrest should be according to law."
The former Defence minister said
he had known Shankaracharya for over 30 years. The pontiff told him that
people outside should not take things to such levels when things became
"problematic."
"All those who are upset with the
arrest should remain united," was the seer's plea, Fernandes said.
