Kolkata: Swami Pradiptananda Maharaj of Bharat Sevashram Sangha (BSS) on Monday sent a legal notice to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanding an unconditional apology for alleged defamatory remarks about the organisation.
Confirming news of the legal notice to the CM, Pradiptananda Maharaj, also known as Kartik Maharaj, told PTI that he wouldn’t have bothered if it was personal criticism.
“If Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had defamed me personally, I would not have been concerned. As a spiritual leader, we are not affected by personal criticism as we are here to serve the people. However, she defamed the organisation, which is unacceptable,” said Kartik Maharaj.
“…call upon you (Banerjee) to forthwith address the press and issue an unconditional apology and retract your virulent and malafide statement within 48 hours from receipt of the instant notice and cease and desist from making further similar statements against my client defaming and maligning my client,” Pradiptananda Maharaj’s counsel Billwadal Bhattacharyya said in the notice, reported Hindustan Times.
The notice further said that if Mamata did not reply within four days, it would be understood that she wanted to give wide publicity to the defamatory content to falsely and maliciously defame Pradiptanandaand. It added that Pradiptananda, who is BSS secretary in Aurangabad, Beldanga (Murshidabad) and Payradanga (Nadia), reserves the right to initiate criminal cases against the CM.
During a rally in Purulia on Sunday, Modi had criticised the TMC for crossing the limits of decency by “spreading falsehoods against ISKCON, Ramakrishna Mission, and Bharat Sevashram Sangha..
During an election rally in Goghat, under Arambagh Lok Sabha constituency, on Saturday, Mamata had alleged that some monks of Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha are working under the influence of BJP leaders in Delhi.
“We respect the monks… Those who manage temples are doing commendable spiritual work, not all are involved in such activities. This is unacceptable,” Mamata said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday slammed Mamata for threatening ISKCON, RKM and BSS to protect Muslims and infiltrators.
“The chief minister is bad-mouthing our great organisations and maligning them under pressure from hardcore Muslim outfits to secure votes. TMC is insulting Bengal’s heritage and culture. They repeatedly use vulgar words against Ram Mandir [in Ayodhya]. Would not you reply to TMC’s appeasement politics with your votes,” Modi said at a rally in Bankura.
