MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) on Monday said the ongoing controversy surrounding Captain Ashok Kharat, a self-proclaimed "royal astrologer", has sent shockwaves through Maharashtra’s political corridors.
While Kharat has been arrested following allegations of exploitation and fraudulent activities, the row has cast a harsh light on the numerous high-ranking ministers and officials who frequented his "court" seeking divine intervention for political gains. "The current political trajectory of Maharashtra, moving from the shores of Guwahati to the doorsteps of the Kharat Baba ashram, represents a disturbing shift where the state's progressive roots are being buried under a forest of superstition. The current political landscape in Maharashtra also exposes a shift from progressive values to superstition and 'godman' culture, the party said in its mouthpiece, 'Saamana'.
In a scathing editorial, the party claimed that the investigation into Kharat’s activities suggests a dark side to his "spiritual" guidance, including the alleged exploitation of several women under the guise of religious rituals and fortune-telling. Despite these grave allegations, a significant portion of the state cabinet remained devoted followers. "Kharat is not the only culprit; those who licked his feet and sought his advice are equally complicit."