Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered the state administration to launch ‘Operation Kalnemi’ to nab impostors posing themselves as Hindu sadhus and bringing disrepute to Sanatan Dharma.
The chief minister warned on Thursday that fraudsters in the guise of Hindu holy men will not be spared.
According to the senior state government officials, Dhami’s directive came in the wake of repeated complaints about impostors in saffron clothes cheating people and Sanatan Dharma in the name of religion. They said following the order from the chief minister, strict action will be taken against people calling themselves as Hindu holy men and defaming Sanatan Dharma by cheating people in Devbhoomi.
The officials further said that “Operation Kalnemi” will be launched soon to identify the impostors.
“Several cases have come to the light from different parts of the state wherein anti-social elements, disguised as Hindu religious holy men, targeted and cheated girls and women of the community. This not only hurts religious sentiments of the people but also defames the Sanatan traditions,” said an official in the state Secretariat.
“Today, a large number of “Kalnemis” are active in the society akin to how demon Kalnemi cheated people posing as a sage in the ancient Indian past. The government is committed to protecting Sanatan culture and maintaining communal harmony. Those who spread misinformation in the name of faith won’t be spared under any circumstances. Strict legal action will be taken against them,” said Dhami.
Meanwhile, although the Uttarakhand chief minister’s direction to launch Operation Kalnemi has got the support of the ruling BJP, it’s also being questioned by the main Opposition Congress party.
“The chief minister’s decision to identify and punish fraud and impostors trying to cheat women and girls launching “Operation Kalnemi” is welcome. This will help the government to not only save many lives but also deter the cheats from trying to defame the Sanatan,” said senior BJP spokesperson and state media incharge Manvir Singh Chauhan.
The Congress party, on the other hand, has raised questions over the decision. Party’s senior spokesperson Garima Dasauni said, “The chief minister must explain to the people of Uttarakhand the reason behind taking this step and if there is any plan to launch an operation like this. He must also let people know on whose orders the CM came up with this directive to the state administration. How many cases of cheating and fraud under fake identities of Hindu sadhus have come up so far.”