Sadhus vow to check conversion and cow slaughter

Bhubaneswar, Sep 6 (UNI) The 'Shradhanjali' Sabha organised in memory of Swami Laxamananda Sarsawati today passed peacefully with no report of any untoward incident.

The Sabha was organised by the Swami Laxamanda Sarswati Shradhanjali Samiti to help hundreds of sadhus to pay their homage to Swamiji who was gunned down by armed assailants inside the Jalaspeta Ashram in Kandhamal district along with four of his disciples on the night of August 23.

Hundreds of sadhus hailing from different parts of the state congregating at the Freedom Fighters Field took a pledge at the Sabha not to allow any conversion and stop cow slaughter across the state.

Participating in the ''Shradhanjali Sabha'' the sadhus also vowed to reconvert the people to Hindusim and work for the protection of the religion.

Earlier, the authorities had imposed prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC in the city to prevent the sadhus to carry out a rally, apprehending law and order problem.

The sadhus said Swamiji had fought throughout his life against illegal conversion and cow slaughter. ''If we carry out the fight it would be the best tribute to him,'' they added.

The sadhus alleged that the Christians killed Swamiji as he was opposed to the conversion and cow slaugter but the government absolved itself of responsibilities by saying that the Maoists killed Swamiji.

Swami Ramacharan Das said the government which could not protect the Hindus and its gurus had no right to remain in power.

Swami Chinbmayananda Maharaj said the Hindus should unitedly vote for a party which would protect the Hindus and their interests.

Shradhanjali Samiti Coordinator Laxmikanta Das said demonstration would be held in every district headquarter from September 20 to 30 demanding the arrest of the killer of Swamiji.

Swami Sachidananda Saraswati Maharaja who presided over the Shradhanjali Sabha, described the murder as an '' international religious conspiracy to finish Hinduism and spread Christianity in the country.'' He said in the name of securlarism an effort was on to suppress the Hindus and asked the intellectuals whether the country should continue with its secular tag or be declared as a Hindu country.

The seer held that the successive governments, who ruled the state for the last 50 years near responsible for the murder of Swamiji, as they failed to implement the Cow Slaughter Act and the Conversion Act effectively.

He suggested to constitute a committee in every village to keep a strict vigil on the illegal conversion and cow slaughter and take action.

UNI BD KK AB JT RK1920