Swami Agnivesh manhandled for remarks against Lord Shiva

, Dec 1: Social worker

was on Friday, Nov 30 manhandled by activists of a local organisation in Bhopal for his alleged derogatory remarks against the

Shiva. The incident took place after a programme to launch the Maila Mukti Yatra in which Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Jairam Ramesh and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan were present.

Police immediately intervened and forced away the activists from the spot. "We protested against Agnivesh for his recent remarks against the Hindu god Shiva. We would not spare anyone, specially those wearing saffron robes, for acting in such a manner," Sanskriti Bachao Manch's convener Chandra Shekhar Tiwari said.

The Manch activists forcibly removed a cloth worn by Agnivesh and also tried to remove his headgear but could not, he admitted. Tiwari said the people of this country look upon those wearing saffron robes with great respect and if such persons engage in loose talk about gods, then it would not be tolerated.

Later talking to reporters, Agnivesh said that he had pardoned those who were involved in the incident and that he would not like to comment on it.

PTI