Amid protest by women wrestlers against BJP MP, Ayodhya sants call June 5 gathering to seek amendments in POCSO Act

“There are many sub-clauses under the POCSO Act that define the crime and how it was done… how harassment has taken place. In order to define these, it even considers looking at someone, staring or touching. For prominent public figures, many people enter their lives, be it women, men or children, for taking awards, blessings or to share their achievements or problems. There are many people that surround them,” Mahant Mithlesh Nandani Sharan of Hanumat Niwas, told mediapersons on Monday.

Sharan added, “While the work of many people gets done through these public figures, there are several who are disappointed and end up making false allegations. We urge the government to be strict against sexual harassment and tackle it under stringent laws. But the clause that allows arrest of people just on the basis of some indicative gestures and based on just one-sided allegations need amendment.”

He pointed out that some “abhasi paristhitiyan” (indicative circumstances) over which the POCSO Act calls for action could be misjudged as in the case of sants, it has been an “age-old tradition” to give blessings by touching the head of people.

“Jo uski abhasi paristhitiyan hai, kisi mahatma ke pas koi stri gayi hai ashirwad lene ke liye. Woh sir par hath rakh kar ashirvad dete hain, peeriyon purani parampara hai… Koi aarop ke aadhar par ek vyakti ko andar kar diya jaye… Kaise pramanit hoga ki arop lagane wale ki hi baat sahi hai?” (The situation considered under the Act, which are perceived. If a woman approaches a sant and he blesses her by touching her head. It has been an age-old tradition. So if any individual is arrested, how would those charges be proved just on the basis of the one
who is making allegations),” Sharan said.

Another sant Sateyndra Das said, “The POCSO Act is being misused. People are mentally harassed even before they are accused of a crime. We and sants from different parts of the country would put forward our views on this on June 5 and the recommendations would be sent to the government for amendment in the Act.”