Hypnotism main weapon of Sanatan Sanstha, says rationalist

Mumbai: Hypnotism is the chief weapon of Sanatan Sanstha and if its activities are not checked in time, India will become Afghanistan, rationalist Shyam Manav said on Thursday. Manav, whom Sanatan had accused of having a hand in the killing of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, rubbished the allegations, saying, "What would I have gained by killing him."

Manav also said Dr Jayant Athavale of Sanatan had carried out an experiment in hypnotism on him in 1989. Sanatan Sanstha had come under scanner when its member Sameer Gaikwad was arrested from Sangli in Maharashtra in connection with the murder of rationalist and CPI leader Govind Pansare.

"I don't claim that Sameer Gaikwad did the killing. My claim is that anyone who kills won't be able to give any information (due to the hypnotism)," Manav added.

"These people (sadhaks of Sanatan) are trained in such a manner that they won't share any information with you. Sanatan hypnotises young people and makes them tread the evil path," he said.

"I am confident that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will take appropriate action (against Sanatan) as facts become clear," Manav said.

Slain IPS officer Hemant Karkare had done a lot to unearth misdeeds of Sanatan and similar organisations, Manav said. Manav, who claimed he had started the All Indian Andhshradha Nirmulan Samiti (ANS) in 1982, said there was nobody else in that field when he began work.

Police have examined all possibilities in the Dabholkar killing, Manav said. He also said he had not recieved Rs 2 crore but Rs one crore as Sanatan claimed from the government for eradication of superstition.

Sanatan Sanstha recently demanded Manav's arrest over for his allegation that the right wing organisation was using hypnosis to create human bombs. Manav had alleged that Sanatan would brainwash people against rationalists and train and programme them to kill the rationalists.

Pansare was gunned down in February this year when he was out for a morning walk in Sagar Mala locality of Kolhapur city. His murder was part of a recent spate of attacks on rationalists across the country.

Meanwhile, Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse said the state government can consider a proposal to ban Sanatan if there is concrete proof against that organisation and if its proved in court.