SANATAN SANSTHA UNDER CLOUD OVER MURDER OF RATIONALISTS

What is your stand on the demand for a ban on the Sanatan Sanstha?

To impose a ban there has to be some evidence. Leftists and pseudo-seculars have failed to provide even a semblance of evidence. There is no reference to the Sanstha in the charge sheet filed by the anti-terrorism squad in the explosions at Thane, Vashi and Panvel. The name of the Sanstha does not appear in the judgment delivered by the Mumbai Sessions Court on 30th August 2011. There is no reference to the Sanstha in the charge sheet and supplementary charge sheet submitted in the special court by the National Investigation Agency in the Goa explosions. All six Sanatan seekers have been acquitted . No offences are registered against the Sanstha

and its office-bearers.

One of your seekers, Sameer Gaikwad, is still in custody in the Pansare murder case and apparently a witness has identified him.

The police have been naming him as a suspect, not accused. Till the court gives its verdict, the Sanstha maintains that Mr Sameer Gaikwad is innocent, and he has been wrongly and unnecessarily implicated. Regarding identification of Sameer by a witness, there is no official statement from the police. It is only a certain section of media that has come up with this. Pansare’s wife and neighbours have not identified Sameer as a suspect.

What does Sanstha say about Rudra Patil who is a suspect?

Mr. Rudra Patil is absconding since 2009 and the Sanstha has no contact with him since.

Would you like to say anything about the enmity between you and Dabholkar and Pansare?

Our opposition to Dabholkar and Pansare is at the intellectual level. We do not support violence in any form.

Your newspaper quoted Dr Athavale as saying that Hindus should emulate Naxalites.

The Constitution has given the right of self defence to every citizen. Nowadays, the incidents of molestation and rapes of women are on the rise. In fact, the government should take the initiative to train women in self-defence. If an organisation is taking such an initiative, it would be improper to discourage it. The statement made by Dr. Athavale should be read in the above context.

Does the Sanstha believe in countering attack against it in violent ways?

There is absolutely no violence and extremism in our ideology. We believe in elimination of the root cause rather than treating the symptoms.