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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Crack down on fake godmen scourge

Mumbai: As outrage continues across the state over the revival ‘babas’ and ‘buwas’ – self-styled fake godmen on the rampage targeting people, especially women, a social activist has called for a crackdown on this scourge by the government, coupled with awareness and grassroots support at the village-levels. Towards this end, Mahatma Phule Samaj Seva Mandal (MPSSM) chief Pramod Zinjade submitted a memorandum to the Rural Development Ministry seeking a state-supported initiative to curb such...

Crack down on fake godmen scourge

Mumbai: As outrage continues across the state over the revival ‘babas’ and ‘buwas’ – self-styled fake godmen on the rampage targeting people, especially women, a social activist has called for a crackdown on this scourge by the government, coupled with awareness and grassroots support at the village-levels. Towards this end, Mahatma Phule Samaj Seva Mandal (MPSSM) chief Pramod Zinjade submitted a memorandum to the Rural Development Ministry seeking a state-supported initiative to curb such evil social malpractices rampant in the mofussil areas. Zinjade urged the government to move swiftly as superstition-loaded exploitation is not only spreading but cutting across caste-religious lines with such fake babas preying on the vulnerable village folks – and must be curbed with an iron hand. “The recent case of Nashik, involving Ashokkumar Eknath Kharat, as well as others in the recent past in the state and other parts of the country, has highlighted how these unscrupulous persons trap people in the name of miracles, healing powers, divine engagement and occult practices,” Zinjade told  ‘ The Perfect Voice’ . There are other similar instances in some parts of the state where ‘tantriks’ forced gullible women into physically exploitative rituals - ostensibly to ward off curses, effects of dark spells or evil spirits, saving the lives of their husbands or kin - and other such superstitions. Black Magic Act Referring to the Maharashtra Prevention & Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013, Zinjade said in his memorandum that existing legal provisions are underutilised or not fully enforced, and need to get a boost from the state. “The law has already criminalised such acts and also mandated stringent punishment, besides encouraging the citizens to develop a ‘scientific temper’ to prevent abuse by so-called bhondu babas. The government should issue a state-level circular directing all district and local authorities to mandate the Village Panchayats to take up ‘Superstition Free Village’ as a formal agenda to be implemented within a time-frame,” explained Zinjade. All the villages can pass suitable resolutions, form Superstition Eradication Committees, launch awareness campaigns involving the youth and school or college students, vigil by women’s groups to keep an eye on any resident or roving godmen and enforce the law at the grassroots with the help of the local police along with the district administration, he added. He expressed optimism that if the state government intervenes in the matter, there could be a drastic reduction in incidents of superstitious, fraudulent, spiritual and aghori rituals-practices, preventing the exploitation of womenfolk plus ensuring the rural societies are rendered safe and secure.

Omar welcomes Indus Water Treaty suspension, calls it “most unfair document” for J&K



SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday welcomed the Central government’s decision to suspend the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan following the deadly Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives. He also referred to the treaty as the “most unfair document” for the people of J&K.


“The Government of India has taken some steps. As far as Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, let’s be honest. We have never been in favour of the Indus Waters Treaty. We have always believed it to be the most unfair document to people of J&K,” Abdullah told reporters in Srinagar after meeting representatives from the tourism, trade, and industry sectors. However, he noted that the long-term impact of this move is still uncertain.


The IWT suspension is part of India’s response to the brutal attack. Other actions include expelling Pakistani military attaches and shutting down the Attari land-transit point immediately.


When questioned about the impact of the April 22 attack on the region’s tourism industry, Abdullah dismissed concerns about monetary losses. “At this juncture, we are not counting rupees or paisa. Not one of the businessmen or stakeholders in the tourism industry who attended the meeting lamented the loss of business. Not one of them expressed any concern about what would happen to them.”


“Right now, our priority is to express solidarity with the bereaved,” he said, adding, “At some point in future, we may sit down to discuss the financial implications (of the attack) on J&K’s economy. But not a single stakeholder present in the meeting raised a demand for monetary relief for the losses they are suffering.”


Omar described the tourist exodus from J&K after the massacre as “heartbreaking”. The future of the Valley’s tourism sector remains uncertain, with widespread trip cancellations following the attack.

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