It was just another Sunday at Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan (DJJS) with its head Ashutosh Maharaj’s followers congregating for the weekly satsang. But, the usual ended on an out-of-the-ordinary note with the DJJS management asking the followers to gather in hordes on December 14 — just before the expiry of 15-day deadline for cremating the “frozen godman”.
The call to the followers has left the district and police administration jittery with the apprehensions of a Satlok Aashram replay at DJJS headquarters at Nurmahal near Jalandhar.
The Jalandhar district authorities are making every possible effort to cancel the DJJS’ “mega event” on December 14. On the other hand, the DJJS authorities are resolute to hold the “monthly satsang” while describing it as a “routine thing”.
“The district administration has not yet approached us to cancel or postpone the December 14 satsang. And in case they do, we would reach out to their seniors, but this satsang would take place as it is something that we have been doing since past 10 years or so. It’s just a routine thing,” the DJJS spokesperson told The Pioneer.
Though a regular event, which was being organised since past 10 years on every second Sunday of every month, DJJS is planning to gather maximum number of people on December 14, expecting a gathering of more than 60,000 to 70,000 people at Nurmahal.
The DJJS authorities, during its Sunday weekly satsang, have sent across a clear message to its devotees and followers — to come in large number on December 14. They have been asked to come with buses loaded with followers.
As of now, the Jalandhar District Administration is continuing with its wait and watch policy. But, at the same time, it is also chalking out ways to cancel the congregation. “Having 60,000 people at one place, that too a day before the High Court’s 15-day deadline terminates, is an unsafe situation. We don’t want another Hisar-like situation,” a senior police official said, requesting anonymity.
In fact, it has been learnt that the five-member committee comprising Jalandhar district officials, constituted by the Punjab and Haryana High Court for the purpose of cremating the Maharaj’s body within 15 days of passing the order, is yet to meet. Moreover, the attention of the entire Jalandhar district administration was diverted towards organising the Punjab government’s mega sports event, the World Kabaddi Cup-2014.
Making it clear that nothing like Satlok Aashram would take place at Nurmahal, DJJS authorities maintained that the devotees would gather on next Sunday “for spiritual nourishment”. On Sunday’s weekly satsang, around 1000 people converge at Nurmahal aashram. It has been learnt that DJJS’ 60 centres across the state has also witnessed low turnout on Sunday for weekly satsang.