The controversy over Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan (DJJS) head Ashutosh Maharaj’s cremation has gathered momentum. Up in arms against the administrative machinery, his supporters are planning to hold a huge congregation on December 14 — a day before the Punjab and Haryana High Court order’s deadline ends.
The followers are expecting a gathering of 60,000 to 70,000 — in an apparent attempt to have a show of strength.On the other hand, the DJJS has moved an application before the High Court seeking directions to keep the Single Bench orders of cremating Maharaj’s body in 15 days time “in abeyance” for a month.The DJJS, in its application, has stated that they need 30 days time to prepare an appeal against the Single Bench orders dated December 1.
The application is expected to come up for hearing on Friday.The Single Bench headed by Justice MMS Bedi, in his order, had constituted a five-member committee for cremating Ashutosh Maharaj’s body while setting a 15-day deadline.The Committee, comprising Jalandhar District Magistrate, area’s Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Jalandhar Senior Superintendent of Police, Jalandhar Municipal Corporation Commissioner, and Jalandhar Chief Medical Officer, is yet to hold its meeting, though it was expected to meet on Thursday.
It has been learnt that the Committee members are “in touch” with the DJJS followers and are holding parleys.At the same time, the district police authorities have set up a tented-shed as their camp office near DJJS premises at Nurmahal in Jalandhar district.Nakodar Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Satish Malhotra is heading the campsite.“There are no barricades by the dera people, though we have set up some nakas (check points). There is some police deployment also and the law and order situation is well under control,” DSP Malhotra told The Pioneer.
The police is also maintaining a complete record of the visitors to the DJJS ashram. Besides, the police is also putting down the complete addresses of those visitors staying overnight and those who are regular visitors to the ashram.While the barricades, installed by the DJJS followers outside the ashram, have been removed by the police, the commuters have not been given a free access to the common road leading to the DJJS ashram and a nearby village, resulting in a confrontation between a group of journalists and the DJJS followers.Sources informed that Ashutosh Maharaj’s body has now been kept in a room maintaining a suitable temperature to preserve the body.
Earlier, his body was kept in a deep freezer ever since he was declared clinically dead on January 29, this year.It has almost been 11 months that his disciples are refusing to accept that Ashutosh Maharaj is dead, claiming that “godman” was in Samadhi (deep meditation), and not to be disturbed.There are reports that say that the mystery of Ashutosh Maharaj’s death is related to the control of his properties and assets that run in hundreds of crores.
According to the sources, there are five check posts and two high-rise gates — that has been covered by the DJJS authorities — before a person enters the Nurmahal ashram premises.Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Home Minister Sukhbir Badal has said that the state government will “act as per law” in the matter of cremating the “godman”.
“The State Government is taking needful steps in this regard. The committee under Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar is finalizing the plan vis-à-vis maintaining law and order… I am yet to see the orders. But we will take action accordingly,” said Sukhbir.Making it clear that there were no more barricades now, he said that the State Government’s duty “is to maintain law and order and we will maintain that”.