Barpeta Satra Head reacts Against RSS Agents Remark On Women Devotees
14 December, Guwahati
A day after Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi claimed that RSS had orchestrated an opposition to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhis visit to Barpeta Satra (Vaishnavite monastery), the head of the monastery Monday termed it an unfortunate allegation against the devotees of the Satra.
Satradhikar Basistha Dev Sharma, in an interview to local channels, said it was unfortunate that women devotees waiting to receive Gandhi are being branded RSS agents or working on their behest.
He maintained that the women devotees are not political workers.
The head of the monastery said he was himself waiting to receive Gandhi on December 12 for four hours since 0830 hrs and senior Congress leaders Bhumidhar Barman and Nilamoni Sen Deka too were waiting with him.
But Rahul Gandhi didnt come during that period as he changed plan and visited the Satra later in the afternoon. During the morning hours, there was a usual gathering of people in Satra for the morning prayers and service and I did not see any demonstration against visit of Rahul Gandhi, he said.
Meanwhile, BJP leader and former minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma today claimed that the Congress was coming up with contradictory statements to defend Gandhis not visiting Barpeta Satra at the beginning of his padyatra.
He quoted state Cabinet minister Chandan Sarkar stating that Mr Gandhi had not visited the Satra since he was running late, was not dressed in traditional attire and probably not taken a bath and would visit the Satra is the committee of the Satra invites him on a later date.
Again, State Congress president Anjan Dutta said the visit to the Satra was deferred as the padyatra was running late by over an hour, Dr Sharma pointed.
On the other hand, the chief minister yesterday said RSS had placed women to oppose Rahul Gandhis visit and hence, he avoided it. It clearly shows the Congress is trying to defend Gandhis failure to visit the Satra at the beginning of the Padyatra, Dr Sharma added.
The Chief Minister had yesterday alleged that RSS has infiltrated the famous Barpeta Satra and their workers would have staged a confrontation if Mr Gandhi had gone to visit the Satra at the beginning of his ‘padyatra’ there on December 12 last.
The CM has asked the deputy commissioner of Barpeta to enquire into the matter.
Gandhi paid obeisance at the Satra at the end of his ‘unity march’, concluding his two day visit to Assam.