Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s wife Amruta received quite a flak from rationalists on Monday for accepting chanting beads apparently produced by godman Guruvanand Swami at a function.
At a function organised by Pune based educational institute, Suryadutta Group of Institute, the godman apparently pulled out a chanting bead from thin air and gave it to Chief Minister’s wife who happens to be banking professional in her own right.
In a statement issued later in the evening Amruta Fadnavis clarified that she personally did not believe in any miracles.
Rationalists demanded a clarification from the Chief Minister and also an apology.
In a statement issued here, president of Andhashradha Nirmulan Samiti Avinash Patil challenged the godman to perform the miracle in controlled conditions as specified by the Samiti and added that they were willing to offer him a prize of Rs 21 lakh if he was able to perform his miracle before the Samiti.
In her statement Mrs. Fadnavis said, “I offered my salutations to the godman as I have been inculcated with the values of respecting the elderly people. These are the values that I have been brought up with and these are the values which I shall continue to adhere to. Swami Guruvanand gave me a necklace as a blessing and I would like to reiterate here that I do not believe in miracles of any sort.”
It may be recalled that following the assassination of rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar on August 20, 2013, the State government had passed the anti-superstition bill in December 2013.
As per the provisions of the act the one who performs the miracle and the one who receives any benefaction are held equally responsible.
We hope the CM will uphold the law and arrest his wife. She may be the CM's wife, but everyone is equal before the law,"NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik demanded.
