BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj openly defends rape convict ‘godman’

News Network

August 26, 2017

Lucknow, Aug 26: Hardline Hindutva leader and BJP Lok Sabha member Sakshi Maharaj has openly defended Dera Sachha Sauda chief Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim, who was convicted by a CBI court in Panchkula in Haryana in a case of rape. Gurmeet is accused of raping sadhvis inside his 'gufa' (a customised underground chamber that was his personal residence).

Sakshi Maharaj, who was known for his provocative remarks, termed Ram Rahim a ''noble'' and a ''simple'' person, who commanded influence over millions of people.

''Crores of people consider Ram Rahim as their god while one person has complained of sexual exploitation...the feelings of crores of people should be listened to,'' he said while speaking to reporters at Unnao, his Lok Sabha constituency.

He said that the allegations against the Dera chief could also be ''driven by greed'' and ''prejudice''.''It is also possible that the allegations against Ram Rahim were actually aimed at showing the Indian culture in a bad light,'' Sakshi Maharaj said.

The BJP MP referred to the cases of Colonel Purohit, who was an accused in the Malegaon blast case and was recently granted bail by the supreme court, and Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, also an accused in the same case, to buttress his contention.

"There seems to be a planned conspiracy to defame the seers and our culture,'' he alleged.

He said that the violence in Haryana and Punjab after Ram Rahim's conviction showed the kind of influence he wielded on the people. Earlier also Sakshi Maharaj put his party in a difficult situation by his remarks.

Comments

Court gives verdict on basis of witness nd evidence not on basis of how many supporters or followers some one has. It's difficult to understand sometimes people need punishment against rapist nd sometimes support de rapist.

This is BJP's MP. This main is alleging the judges and judgement. It is contempts of the court.

He should be punished under such acts.

BJP has all such MPs.

This is the crime of the public who elected him to rule the country for public services.

People should learn to about the person they elect to rule them.

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Adani Group in Crisis: $30 Billion Wiped Out after US Bribery and Fraud Charges Emerge

News Network

November 21,2024

Shares of Adani Group companies lost about $28 billion in market value in morning trade on Thursday after US prosecutors charged the billionaire chairman of the Indian conglomerate in an alleged bribery and fraud scheme.

Gautam Adani's flagship company Adani Enterprises tumbled 23 per cent, while Adani Ports, Adani Total Gas, Adani Green, Adani Power, Adani Wilmar and Adani Energy Solutions, ACC , Ambuja Cements and NDTV fell between 20 per cent and 90 per cent.

Adani group's 10 listed stocks had a total market capitalisation of about $141 billion at 0534 GMT, compared to $169.08 billion on Tuesday.

US authorities said Adani and seven other defendants, including his nephew Sagar Adani, agreed to pay about $265 million in bribes to Indian government officials to obtain contracts expected to yield $2 billion of profit over 20 years, and develop India's largest solar power plant project.

Adani Green in a statement on Thursday said the US Justice Department had issued a criminal indictment against board members Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani and the Securities and Exchange Commission had issued a civil complaint against them.

The US Justice Department also included Adani Green board member Vneet Jaain in the criminal indictment, it said.

Adani Green's units had decided not to proceed with the proposed US dollar denominated bond offerings due to developments, it added.

"Investors will shy away from Adani Group stocks ... and that's what this sharp selling is signifying," said Saurabh Jain, assistant vice president of retail equities research at SMC Global Securities.

"This could hurt the credibility of the group and maybe borrowing costs will rise," he said.

The indictment comes nearly two years after US shortseller Hindenburg Research alleged that Adani had improperly used tax havens and was involved in stock manipulation, allegations the conglomerate denied.

Also in early Asian trading on Thursday, Adani dollar bonds slumped, with prices down 3c-5c on bonds for Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone. The falls were the largest since the Adani Group came under a short-seller attack in February 2023.

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