`Women abused in Sakshi's ashrams'

`Women abused in Sakshi's ashrams'
SREELATHA MENON

NEW DELHI, AUG 26: Durga Bharti and Savitri Devi, who accused Rajya Sabha MP Sachidananad Hari Sakshi `Maharaj' of raping them, alleged today that he sexually exploited women in his 110 ashrams.

Women from the ashram in Eta were supplied to politicians and other heavy weights regularly, Durga Bharti said at a press conference. Bharti, who filed an FIR against the Samajwadi Party MP a month ago, is here to present Savitri and her case before Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee. The two women are at present being supported by a social worker in Eta.

Bharti said that she did not crave for political power or publicity and was addressing the media only because she had to defend herself against the charges levelled against her by the MP at a press conference last month.

Bharti said Sakshi had told the world that he had adopted her, but it was just a front to hide the fact that he had been sexually exploiting her for the past four years.

``I never considered him my father even once,'' she said. ``I made the mistake of going to him with the hope of getting a job. He not only gave me a job but even kept me in a flat adjoining the college,'' the 26-year-old said. She said she could not complain to anyone earlier as her movements were monitored and phones tapped.