The famous storyteller Aniruddhacharya Maharaj’s Bhagwat Katha, which is being run in the Raxaul airport complex located on the Indo-Nepal border, has now come under the radar of a big controversy.
During this Katha, organized from February 5 to February 11, there was severe chaos on the fourth day due to large crowd.
Crowd uncontrollable, police had to resort to lathicharge
As soon as Aniruddhacharya Maharaj reached Katha Pandal on the fourth day, a large number of devotees started entering from the same gate. Police tried to control the crowd, but as the pushing and shoving escalated, the situation went out of control. Ultimately the police had to resort to mild lathicharge. This matter came into limelight after the video and news of the incident appeared in the media.
In view of security, QRT team, Scott and police forces of various police stations were deployed by Motihari Police. At the same time, SSB 47 battalion deployed at Raxaul border also cooperated in security arrangements.
Sharp reaction from the stage, blame on the city council
After the news of lathicharge was broadcast, Aniruddhacharya Maharaj made sharp remarks on the national media and Raxaul Municipal Council from Katha Manch. He said that “most lies are spread by the national media” and questioned why toilets were not put to serve the general public.
The most controversy arose from his statement, in which he said that “Not a single rupee from anyone’s father has been invested in organizing the Bhagwat Katha and not a single rupee has been taken from anyone.” There is resentment among the local people and public representatives regarding this comment.
city council side
Raxaul Municipal Council representatives denied the narrator’s allegations. He says that despite limited resources, the city council cooperated in organizing the event. According to the council, three mobile toilets were deployed at the Katha site. 50 sanitation workers were deployed on the first day and 25 sanitation workers every day thereafter.
Apart from this, publicity was done through holding posters in the city, the expenditure of which is said to be around Rs 2.50 lakh. Waiver of this fee is also being considered in the city council meeting.
Claim of ‘getting donations by roaming around’
Local youth and JDU vice president Sunny Kumar claimed that he along with the organizer collected donations by roaming around in Raxaul and Birgunj area of Nepal. He said that there has been great cooperation from the local people in organizing the Katha. Sunny Kumar also alleged that when he came to listen to the story on the fourth day, he was asked for Rs 1 lakh and was thrown out after refusing to identify himself. Calling it a personal insult, he said that he is deeply hurt by this incident.
presence of public representatives
Many local public representatives including Raxaul MLA Pramod Sinha and West Champaran MP Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal participated in the Bhagwat Katha. The event is being organized with the cooperation of local people.
Growing controversy, the event is surrounded by questions
Statements made from the stage during the Katha, lapses in crowd management and confrontation with the local body have brought the entire event into controversy. On one hand, the organizers are calling it a big program of faith, while on the other hand, local people and public representatives are presenting their views regarding the claims of cooperation.
At present, the Katha program is continuing till the scheduled date, but the statements given from the stage and the questions being raised regarding the administrative system have heated up the political and social atmosphere of Raxaul. Now all eyes are on which direction this controversy will take in the coming days.