Tewari attends Divya Jyoti Sansthan function,says nothing to do with religious views of the sect

DJJS,on its part,has always been courting controversy,and in December 2005,had come in direct clash with Sikh bodies after BJP Leader and MLA Harish Bedi had incited DJJS head Ashutosh Maharaj to hold a two-day convention in the city. The Day One of the convention had witnessed protests,which led to police firing and death of a person. Sensing trouble,the district Administration had called off the Day Two of the convention.

The head of this sect,Ashutosh Maharaj,has been under fire from various Sikh organisations after he is said to have spoken against Sikhs respecting Guru Granth Sahib as a guru,while this sect preaches the need for a living guru. An inquiry conducted by the SGPC way back in the nineties had alleged that the DJJS head also quoted freely from the Guru Granth Sahib,claiming it to be his thoughts.

About his decision to attend the function,Tewari said,“I am not concerned with the religious views or politics of a certain sect. It is the issue of female foeticide with which I am concerned. All people should support any organisation working to eradicate this menace. I would support this cause even if the SGPC or any other body worked against it.” When reminded about the December clash that led to curfew in the city,he said,“I am not getting into a debate. If two organisation have an issue,they should sort it out between themselves through talks or through the courts.”