Sakshi Maharaj

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Sakshi Maharaj

| image = Sakshi Maharaj, 2020.jpg

| caption = Sakshi Maharaj in 2020

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|01|12|df=y}}

| birth_place = Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh, India

| office1 = Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha

| term_start1 = {{Start date|2014|05|16|df=yes}}

| term_end1 =

| constituency1 = Unnao

| predecessor1 = Annu Tandon

| term_start2 = 1996

| term_end2 = 1999

| constituency2 = Farrukhabad

| predecessor2 = Salman Khurshid

| succeeded2 = Chandra Bhushan Singh

| term_start3 = 1991

| term_end3 = 1996

| constituency3 = Mathura

| predecessor3 = Manvendra Singh

| succeeded3 = Chaudhary Tejveer Singh

| office4 = Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha

| term_start4 = 03 April 2000

| term_end4 = 21 March 2006

| constituency4 = Uttar Pradesh

| module = {{Infobox religious biography|embed=yes

| religion = Hinduism

| guru =

| post = Acharya "Mahamandleshwar" of Shri Nirmal Panchayati Akhada.

| ordination =

| predecessor =

| honorific prefix =

}}

| party = {{flagicon image|BJP flag.svg}} Bharatiya Janata Party

| occupation = Politician, monk

| alma_mater = {{Unbulleted_list|Panjab University, Chandigarh|Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}}}

| education = {{Unbulleted_list|Master of Arts|Doctor of Philosophy}}

}}

Swami Sachchidanand Hari Sakshi Ji Maharaj (born 12 January 1956), also known as Sakshi Maharaj, is an Indian political and religious leader belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party.{{cite news|title=The maharaj, a party-hopper, educationist and muscleman|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/the-maharaj-a-party-hopper-educationist-and-muscleman/|access-date=6 October 2015|work=The Indian Express|date=14 January 2015}} He won the 2014 general election from Unnao, Uttar Pradesh. He also won Indian general election in 1991 from Mathura, 1996 and 1998 from Farrukhabad. He was also a member of Rajya Sabha from 2000 to 2006, before being suspended for corruption. He holds a Ph.D. degree and runs various educational institutions and ashrams across India under the banner of Sakshi Maharaj Group for which he is also serving as its present director.{{Cite web|url=https://india.gov.in/my-government/indian-parliament/swami-sakshiji-maharaj|title=National Portal : Government of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307210809/https://india.gov.in/my-government/indian-parliament/swami-sakshiji-maharaj|archive-date=2017-03-07|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://sakshimaharajgroup.com/institution.aspx|title=Sakshi Maharaj Group - Institutions|access-date=7 March 2017|archive-date=7 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707200439/http://www.sakshimaharajgroup.com/institution.aspx|url-status=dead}}

He has been at the center of controversies for his reportedly Islamophobic views. While campaigning in the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, he said that he feels it is the last election of the country.{{Cite news|date=2019-03-16|title=There won't be elections after 2019 Modi tsunami: Sakshi Maharaj|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha-2019/there-wont-be-elections-after-2019-modi-tsunami-sakshi-maharaj/article26555789.ece|access-date=2021-05-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122062822/https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha-2019/there-wont-be-elections-after-2019-modi-tsunami-sakshi-maharaj/article26555789.ece|archive-date=2021-01-22|issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-03-16|title='There's a tsunami called Modi in 2019, there will be no election after that': BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj|url=https://scroll.in/latest/916776/theres-a-tsunami-called-modi-in-2019-there-will-be-no-election-after-that-bjp-mp-sakshi-maharaj|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108001123/https://scroll.in/latest/916776/theres-a-tsunami-called-modi-in-2019-there-will-be-no-election-after-that-bjp-mp-sakshi-maharaj|archive-date=2020-11-08|access-date=2021-05-19|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US}}

Life and career

Sachchidanand Hari Sakshi was born in Sakshi Dham, Kasganj district, Uttar Pradesh. His father was Atmanandji Maharaj Premi and mother was Madalasa Devi Lodhi.{{cite web|title=Sixteenth Lok Sabha Members Bioprofile: Swami Maharaj, Dr. Sakshi Ji|url=http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/members/Biography.aspx?mpsno=3586|access-date=6 October 2015|website=Lok Sabha}} Sakshi belongs to the Lodhi community which has been categorised as an Other Backward Class in Uttar Pradesh.{{cite news|title=Lok Sabha polls: Will UP Brahmin upset the Narendra Modi applecart & make the wave less of a tidal flourish?|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-04-14/news/49098006_1_brahmin-rajnath-singh-narendra-modi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416083957/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-04-14/news/49098006_1_brahmin-rajnath-singh-narendra-modi|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 April 2014|access-date=6 October 2015|work=The Economic Times|date=14 April 2015}} Initially, Sakshi belonged to the BJP and had close associations with kalyan singh lodhi, another BJP leader belonging to the Lodhi community, and another BJP leader Kalraj Mishra.{{cite book|author=Sudha Pai|title=Political Process in Uttar Pradesh: Identity, Economic Reforms, and Governance|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S46rbUL6GrMC&pg=PA124|access-date=6 October 2015|year=2007|publisher=Pearson Education India|isbn=978-81-317-0797-5|pages=97, 124–125}}{{cite news|title=The importance of being Kalyan Singh|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2004/03/18/stories/2004031803121200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110144607/http://www.thehindu.com/2004/03/18/stories/2004031803121200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 January 2008|access-date=6 October 2015|work=The Hindu|date=18 April 2004}}{{cite news|title=Terror tactics in filthiest town|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040418/election.htm|access-date=6 October 2015|work=The Tribune (India)|date=18 April 2004}} He was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1991 from Mathura, 1996, and 1998 from Farrukhabad which has a Lodhi majority.{{cite news|title=Controversial MP Sakshi Maharaj has a trail of rape and murder charges behind him|url=http://scroll.in/article/699597/controversial-mp-sakshi-maharaj-has-a-trail-of-rape-and-murder-charges-behind-him|access-date=6 October 2015|work=Scroll.in|date=10 January 2015}} Sakshi Maharaj has been involved in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and is currently under trial as one of the accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case.{{cite news|title=Sakshi Maharaj gets bail in Babri mosque demolition case|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Sakshi-Maharaj-gets-bail-in-Babri-mosque-demolition-case/articleshow/39075813.cms|access-date=6 October 2015|work=The Times of India|date=27 July 2014}}

In the 1999 general election, he campaigned for Samajwadi Party after he was denied a ticket for Farrukhabad by BJP. After 1999 election results were declared, Mulayam Singh formally admitted him to Samajwadi Party.{{Cite web | url=https://m.rediff.com/election/1999/oct/12sak.htm | title=Rediff on the NeT: Sakshi Maharaj joins SP}} Sakshi Maharaj said the BJP's policies were not favourable to poorer and backward sections of the society.{{cite news|title=Consolidation in Uttar Pradesh|url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1622/16221130.htm|access-date=6 October 2015|work=Frontline|date=5 November 1999}}{{cite news|title=Sakshi Maharaj joins SP|url=http://www.rediff.com/election/1999/oct/12sak.htm|access-date=6 October 2015|work=Rediff|date=12 October 1999}} The ticket had been denied to him on the order of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Back then, Sakshi was an accused in the murder of Brahm Dutt Dwivedi, a close associate of Vajpayee. But later the charges were dropped due to lack of evidence.{{cite book|author=Ajoy Bose|title=Behenji: A Political Biography of Mayawati|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N3MGWTeMUNMC&pg=PT147|access-date=6 October 2015|date=9 March 2009|publisher=Penguin Books Limited|isbn=978-81-8475-650-0|pages=146–147}} In 2000, he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by Mulayam Singh Yadav.

In August 2000, a college principal from Etah filed a complaint accusing Sakshi and two of his nephews, Padam Singh and Shivram Ram, of gang-raping her. The woman and her male colleague had been allegedly assaulted by Sakshi when they were driving to Agra from Etah. They had also allegedly taken away the woman's licensed firearm and jeep. The police said that the woman had been living in Sakshi Maharaj's ashram for four years. She had expressed the desire to marry a colleague but Sakshi had objected to it. Sakshi spent about a month in the Tihar jail custody awaiting trial.{{cite news|title=Rape charge against Sakshi Maharaj|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Rape-charge-against-Sakshi-Maharaj/articleshow/1592560504.cms|access-date=6 October 2015|work=The Times of India|date=2 August 2000}} In 2001, he was acquitted due to lack of evidence.{{cite news|title=Uttar Pradesh minister Mohd Azam Khan hits out at Sakshi Maharaj over Madrassas barb|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-uttar-pradesh-minister-mohd-azam-khan-hits-out-at-sakshi-maharaj-over-madrassas-barb-2019266|access-date=6 October 2015|work=DNA India|date=17 September 2014}}

In January 2002, he criticised Samajwadi Party, accusing it of dictatorship, nepotism, casteism and capitalism. He said he would remain in Samajwadi Party but support BJP candidates.{{cite news|title=Sakshi Maharaj criticises Samajwadi Party, vows to work for BJP candidates|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/jan/12up1.htm|access-date=6 October 2015|work=Rediff|date=12 January 2002}}

In December 2005, STAR TV broadcast a report stating that it had carried out a sting operation and found that some parliamentarians were misusing the MPLADS funds. Sakshi Maharaj, then a Rajya Sabha member, was among the 11 named parliamentarians.{{cite news|title=Operation Chakravyuha|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/operation-chakravyuha-confirms-mps-pocket-commission-while-allotting-projects/1/182275.html|access-date=6 October 2015|work=India Today|date=2 January 2006}}{{cite news|title=MPLADS scam rocks Parliament|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20051221/main1.htm|access-date=6 October 2015|work=The Tribune (India)|date=21 December 2005}} Sakshi had allegedly promised fund for a fictitious NGO.{{cite news|title=House panel gets additional task: MPLAD scam|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/House-panel-gets-additional-task-MPLAD-scam/articleshow/1339253.cms|access-date=6 October 2015|work=The Times of India|date=20 December 2005}} On 21 March 2006, the Rajya Sabha voted to expel Sakshi for violating the code of conduct while rejecting his apology.{{cite news|title=Rajya Sabha expels Sakshi Maharaj|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/rajya-sabha-expels-sakshi-maharaj/article3167595.ece|access-date=6 October 2015|work=The Hindu|date=22 March 2006}}{{cite book|author=Sudhanshu Ranjan|title=Justice, Judocracy and Democracy in India: Boundaries and Breaches|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vf4jAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT352|access-date=6 October 2015|date=21 March 2014|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-317-80977-7|page=352}}

In 2009, an inquiry started by Etah District Magistrate Gaurav Dayal found that a college owned by Sakshi had received {{currency|2,500,000|INR}} from the funds. The inquiry also named Sujata Verma, the principal of the college. She was later murdered. Sakshi initially absconded but on 14 October 2009 he surrendered. He was released on a bail bond of {{currency|15,000|INR}}.{{cite news|title=Sakshi Maharaj surrenders, released on personal bond|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Sakshi-Maharaj-surrenders-released-on-personal-bond/articleshow/5125524.cms|access-date=6 October 2015|work=The Times of India|date=15 October 2009}}

In 2012, he returned to BJP just before the assembly polls. On the night of 15 April 2013, Sujata Verma, 47, was shot dead while returning from Sakshi's ashram in Etah. The eyewitness said that he saw Sakshi's brother pull the trigger and alleged that Sakshi was behind the murder. The police booked Sakshi and associates for murder and criminal conspiracy. The victim Sujata Verma was a local panchayat member and a close associate of Sakshi. She also served as the principal of Maharani Avanti Bai College which was owned by Sakshi. But, they had been involved in a property dispute and Verma had taken the matter to court. The victim's son said that they received threats from him in the past. After the charges were filed, Sakshi went underground.{{cite news|title=Sakshi Maharaj, 3 others booked for murder|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Sakshi-Maharaj-3-others-booked-for-murder/articleshow/19588838.cms|access-date=6 October 2015|work=The Times of India|date=17 April 2013}}{{cite news|title=BJP leader facing murder charges, on the run|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bjp-leader-facing-murder-charges-on-the-run-519297|access-date=6 October 2015|work=NDTV|date=16 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007074934/http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bjp-leader-facing-murder-charges-on-the-run-519297|archive-date=7 October 2015|df=dmy-all}}{{cite news|title=BJP leader accused of killing woman, on the run|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/bjp-leader-accused-of-killing-woman-on-the-run/1103526/|access-date=6 October 2015|work=The Indian Express|date=17 April 2013}} On 29 April 2013, Allahabad High Court refused to quash the FIR against him.{{cite news|title=Sakshi Maharaj petition quashed|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/sakshi-maharaj-petition-quashed/1109461/|access-date=24 November 2015|work=The Indian Express|date=30 April 2013}} In the 2014 general election, he contested from Unnao for BJP.

Religious and other activities

Sakshi Maharaj holds the title of Acharya Mahamandleshwar of Shri Nirmal Panchayati Akhada. He is also the director of Sakshi Maharaj Group which has 17 educational institutions in India and several ashrams.

Personal views

On 14 September 2015 in a speech in Kannauj, Sakshi Maharaj said the madrasas were creating terrorists and they encourage their students to carry out Love Jihad.{{cite news|title=BJP Unnao MP Sakshi Maharaj claims madrasas offering cash rewards for love jihad|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/bjp-unnao-mp-sakshi-maharaj-claims-madrasas-offering-cash-rewards-for-love-jihad/|access-date=6 October 2015|work=The Indian Express|date=15 September 2014}}{{cite news|title=Madrassas are schools of terror: BJP's Unnao MP Sakshi Maharaj|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Madrassas-are-schools-of-terror-BJPs-Unnao-MP-Sakshi-Maharaj/articleshow/42477118.cms|access-date=6 October 2015|work=The Times of India|date=15 September 2014}}

On 11 December 2014, he called Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mohandas Gandhi, a "patriot and nationalist" like Gandhi in the Indian Parliament. The members of the Indian National Congress party criticised the statement. Later, he retracted his statement and said that he did not consider Godse a "patriot".{{cite news|title=Godse was a patriot just like Mahatma Gandhi: Sakshi Maharaj|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/uproar-in-rs-over-eulogising-godse/article6682464.ece|access-date=6 October 2015|work=The Hindu|date=11 December 2014}}

On 6 January 2015 while addressing a gathering in Meerut, Sakshi urged Hindu women to produce at least four children each to protect Hinduism in India and said Muslims practice polygyny and thus have a high birth rate. In the same speech, he defended the Ghar Wapsi movement and advocated death sentence for cow slaughter and religious conversion.{{cite news|title=Every Hindu woman must produce at least 4 kids: Sakshi Maharaj|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Every-Hindu-woman-must-produce-at-least-4-kids-Sakshi-Maharaj/articleshow/45782862.cms|access-date=6 October 2015|work=The Times of India|date=6 January 2015}}{{cite news|title=Produce 4 kids to protect Hinduism: Sakshi Maharaj|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sakshi-stokes-another-controversy-asks-hindus-to-have-4-kids/article6763837.ece|access-date=6 October 2015|work=The Hindu|date=7 January 2015}} Police filed the FIR under Section 298 of IPC (hurting religious sentiments), among others.

Following the 2015 Nepal earthquake, on 27 April, Sakshi claimed that the earthquake happened because INC leader Rahul Gandhi visited the Kedarnath temple. He claimed that Gandhi eats beef and visited the temple without purifying himself.{{cite news|title=Nepal quake: Sakshi Maharaj blames Rahul Gandhi's Kedarnath visit|url=http://www.sify.com/news/nepal-quake-sakshi-maharaj-blames-rahul-gandhi-s-kedarnath-visit-news-national-pe2krdiafjghf.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502035247/http://www.sify.com/news/nepal-quake-sakshi-maharaj-blames-rahul-gandhi-s-kedarnath-visit-news-national-pe2krdiafjghf.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 May 2015|access-date=6 October 2015|work=Sify|date=28 April 2015}}{{cite news|title=Sakshi Maharaj politicises Nepal quake, blames Rahul Gandhi for tragedy|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-sakshi-maharaj-politicises-nepal-quake-by-blaming-rahul-gandhi-for-tragedy-2081386|access-date=6 October 2015|work=DNA India|date=28 April 2015}}

In May 2016, Sakshi was at BJP worker Maidan Singh's house in Unnao after a police raid, where some of the family members including the girl were allegedly injured after they used force.{{Citation needed|date= August 2022}} The girl was made to unbutton her jeans in public view and in front of cameras to "show the MP the injuries". However, according to some reports, the main controversy on Sakshi Maharaj was that he threatened to shoot the police who entered Singh's house. Station House Officer Jitendra Kumar filed a complaint against Sakshi, after which he was booked under sections 153 (causing provocation to cause riot), 506 (for criminal intimidation) and 505 (1) (b) (intent to cause fear or alarm to the public). The police had conducted a raid on Maidan Singh's house in connection with illicit liquor trade.{{Cite web | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/WATCH-Girl-Forced-to-Unbutton-Her-Jeans-in-Front-of-BJP-MP-Sakshi-Maharaj/2016/05/06/article3418375.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506144823/http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/WATCH-Girl-Forced-to-Unbutton-Her-Jeans-in-Front-of-BJP-MP-Sakshi-Maharaj/2016/05/06/article3418375.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=6 May 2016 |title = WATCH: Girl Forced to Unbutton Her Jeans in Front of BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj}}