Do not compare Asaram Bapu with Gurunanak Dev, say Sikhs in Gautam Budh Nagar

Sikhs took to the streets here on Wednesday to vent their ire over the remark made by Asaram Bapu's media adviser Neelam Dubey likening him to Gurunanak Dev, while defending the controversial godman in the sexual assault case.

"The foul mouthed Neelam Dubey, spokesperson of self proclaimed Godman, Asaram Bapu, ranting bad words about our religious leader, Gurunanak Dev and about other religious leaders and saints like Kabir Das, Sai Baba goes to show that she does not believe in humanity. And such a person is spokesperson of the Godman," said Harmeet Singh Kalka, Joint Secretary of Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee, who led the protests.

"We came here to protest after she used those words on media platforms and has now locked her home and run away," he added.

The Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has filed a case against Neelam Dubey for comparing Asaram Bapu to Guru Nanak Dev.

According to the complaint, she allegedly made objectionable remarks against Gautam Buddha, Guru Nanak and other religious leaders while reacting to the rape allegations made by a minor girl against Asaram Bapu.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Home Minister Ashok Gehlot today met Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and apprised about the Asaram Bapu case.

Gehlot after the meeting told media that nobody is above the law.

"Let me reiterate that police should not come under any pressure while conducting its investigation and it will not happen. Strict action will be taken based on the outcome of the probe," he said.

The Union Home Ministry had earlier asked the governments of Rajasthan, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh to send reports on complaints of sexual offence allegedly committed by Asaram Bapu.

The Union Home Ministry had in its advisory asked the three state governments to send reports about the complaints registered against the self-styled godman, status of the cases and findings of the probe.

Asaram Bapu had earlier on Tuesday defended himself in the alleged sexual abuse case, and claimed that it is a political conspiracy.

"It's all a political conspiracy. I have faced many such dirty accusations in the past as well. There is no question of me taking anticipatory bail," he said.

A Jodhpur Police team yesterday delivered summons to Asaram in this case involving a minor.

The officials, who went to Asaram Bapu's ashram to deliver the summons to him, asked him to appear before the Jodhpur police for questioning by August 30 in the case.

Asaram Bapu's aide Neelam Dubey has also defended him in this case of alleged sexual assault.

Asaram Bapu has been booked under Sections 376, 342, 506 and 509 of the IPC, Section 8 of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and Sections 23 and 26 of the Juvenile Justice Act.

Besides the summons served on Asaram Bapu, notices have also been issued to the manager of Chhindwara gurukul in Madhya Pradesh, hostel warden and the main caretaker of Asaram, who was present at Manai ashram in Jodhpur with him on August 15, when the alleged sexual assault took place there.

The 16-year-old girl, who has accused the spiritual leader of sexually assaulting her at his ashram in Jodhpur, hails from Uttar Pradesh.