Thugs, not god-men
Rampal's supporters should know that large numbers cannot excuse the breaking of law
The Haryana Police is in a spot. It has been asked to arrest one Rampal, a charlatan posing as a god-man, and bring him before the Punjab and Haryana high court.
It is having a tough time trying to seize the man. His so-called ashram, near Hisar town in Haryana, is a fortified zone from where his followers fired with impunity at the police on Tuesday. The stand-off is another warning for Punjab and Haryana, where such god-men and sects abound. Politicians in these states dare not touch them for fear of antagonizing their followers. The result is that these sects are more of political joints and have nothing to do with spiritual quests.
The right thing for the new state government is to use force without any fear of mass casualties. Rampal’s supporters should know that large numbers cannot excuse the breaking of law. If the government cracks down now, in the early phase of its tenure, it may have a salutary effect on these lawless god-men and their followers.
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