Thiruvananthapuram: After the violent incidents that rocked many parts of Haryana, Punjab and Delhi following the arrest of Godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim, many organisations in Kerala have revived their demand for bringing legislation on the lines of Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013. The Maharasthra government had brought the ordinance against evil practices following the brutal killing of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar. Organisations like Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad and Kerala Yukthivadi Sanghom believe that it is right time for the LDF Government to frame the legislation.
It is no secret that faith healing, evil practices and superstitious activities have become a flourishing industry in the state and to deal with questions of blind faith from regulating funding to legal action against Godmen, there is a dire need for a comprehensive legislation. Left fellow travellers like B. Ekbal are in the forefront pitching strongly for such a legislation to check the growing clout of Godmen, evil practices and save people from becoming victims. “With the activities of Godmen reaching alarming proportions as was seen recently in North India, the state government is required to act effectively. Without any further delay the government should enact a law on the lines of Maharashtra legislation. Godmen, evil practices and superstitious practices are growing in our state. We should not forget that four women died during the process of black magic treatment in the recent years in the state. Violent incidents and illegal activities related to Godmen which are happening in North India cannot be ruled out in the state. Under these circumstances a special session of Assembly should be convened at the earliest to pass the legislation,” Ekbal said in a recent Facebook post.
Soon after the LDF Government came to power in the state in 2016, Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad submitted a representation which included the demand for bringing legislation against superstition and evil practices. “We are planning to take up the matter with the government again. A draft bill was also submitted by us during Oommen Chandy’s tenure. He promised to act on it but nothing happened thereafter. Even a private members bill was planned but that didn’t work,” said P. Murali former president of Sastra Sahitya Parishad. Many believe the government needs to take stringent legal and social steps to effectively deal with evil practices and black magic to save people from becoming victims of black magicians, quacks and conmen. They force people to either stop or not take scientifically proved medical treatment thus leaving them to the mercy of quacks, conmen and black magicians.
In 2008, the then LDF government made an attempt to rein in Godmen and fake swamis. The move came after the arrest of Godman Santosh Madhavan which was followed by a crackdown on such people. It is no secret that the Godmen and fake swamis have gained strength because of the support they enjoy from politicians, film stars, businessmen who want to make it big in life. Many of these Godmen have astrology as side business while they make real money acting as middlemen in shady land deals especially involving NRKs. There are even allegations of rape and molestation of minors against some of them. After the 2008 crackdown, the godmen were on the run from police for a brief period. At that time small time swamis alleged that the government was targeting them and sparing the high profile godmen and godwomen. Well known rationalists like U. Kalanathan of Kerala Yukthivadi Sanghom have led many campaigns against godmen, godwomen, superstition and evil practices. They have accused successive governments in the state of shying away from examining the source of income of powerful and influential godmen and godwomen. The who’s who of the society visit their ashrams to get their blessings and this is how they grant legitimacy to such spiritual gurus, they say.
During the drive against godmen nine years ago, the LDF government faced stiff resistance from a section of Hindu organisations. At that time they alleged that Santosh Madhavan was being made a cover to attack ashrams and there was a definite agenda. Some of the organisations even tried to give a communal colour saying the drive was part of a larger Islamist and Christian conspiracy. A similar resistance or even a more powerful one is likely to be witnessed this time around especially with the BJP and Sangh Parivar gaining strength nationwide. However, Left and rationalist organisations say that their demand is not aimed at only one particular religion. The demand is to bring a legislation that can curb the evil practices and exploitation of common man in all religions. The KSSP believes there is no need for any confrontation on the issue. “We want to build scientific temper among the people. I don’t think any political party or religious organisation will oppose action against fake swamis and evil practitioners,” said Murali. Experts say that in a complex world of religion, telling believers not be blinded by faith is a big challenge. But there are no short cuts.
