Former BJP MLA of Dwarka Pabubha Manek tried to assault Ram Katha preacher Morari Bapu at the temple town last week. Morari Bapu had come to pay obeisance at Dwarkadhish temple and put a lid on a controversy that was triggered by his alleged remarks about Lord Krishna and his brother Balram some days ago.
Manek, who had unsuccessfully challenged his disqualification as an MLA in Supreme Court recently, reached the VIP guest house of temple where Morari Bapu was addressing media persons along with Jamanagar BJP MP Poonam Maadam. After Morari Bapu, Maadam was about to interact with reporters when Manek rushed in and reached menacingly close to the preacher. However, a person intervened in the nick of time and took away the MLA.
Videos of the incident showed Maadam desperately pleading with Manek to control himself. Manek relented but is seen addressing Morari Bapu curtly and asking him to leave immediately. Talking to reporters, Maadam said, “Devotees were hurt by Morari Bapu’s comments regarding Lord Krishna, Balram and about Dwarka and Yadavs. The community had demanded that he come to the temple and apologize before Lord Krishna.”
Morari Bapu said, “I have publicly apologized to all those who were hurt by my words. I sincerely wish to maintain the unity and integrity of the society.” According to sources, Morari Bapu reached Dwarka at around 6 pm and performed puja in the temple. He had planned to stay overnight in the guest house, but left for Porbandar after the ruckus.
Rohan Anand, superintendent of police, Devbhumi Dwarka district, said: “After some altercation, there was an attempt to assault Morari Bapu. Once Bapu settled in the room in the presence of the MP, police were standing guard outside to see that no unknown person enters.” No formal complaint has been lodged, said Anand.
Morari Bapu had allegedly riled Lord Krishna followers, particularly those from the local Aahir community, with the comments made some days ago. Followers of Lord Krishna had even submitted memorandums to the government authorities in several districts demanding that the preacher come in person and offer his apology in Dwarkadhish temple.
Bandh in Mahuva
Mahuva and Talgajrada observed a bandh on Saturday against attack on Morari Bapu. While a few bodyguards were also spotted in the Ram katha narrator’s ashram in Talgajarda, but Bapu’s spokesperson denied engaging them for the preacher. Talgajrada village, where Morari Bapu has his ashram is also his native place. There was a rumour that Manek is likely to come to offer his apology and so, nearly 150 people gathered outside the ashram, armed with ink to blacken Manek’s face.
State minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama and BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya also reached the ashram to meet the preacher. Talking to media, Chudasama said, “This is not the right way to express his disagreement, we condemn the incident.” When asked what action would the party take on the ex-MLA, Pandya skirted the query with an evasive reply: “The party will take an appropriate decision.”
It is for the first time that private security guards were spotted outside the ashram all day long. When contacted Jaydev Makad who is handling the ashram’s public relations, said, “They (guards) are not engaged for Bapu, they have come here with one of his followers.”
