Ban book with allegations against Amritanandamyi: VHP

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Vishwa Hindu Parishad today demanded the government to proscribe the book ' Holy hell: A memoir of faith, devotion and pure madness" written by a former inmate of Amritanandamyi Mutt holding that its contents brought disgrace upon the spiritual leader.

Australian born Gail Tredwell, the author, was "instigated by an international agency with an objective to defame Hindu society and its spiritual leaders", VHP Chief Ashok Singhal told reporters here.

A massive congregation of leaders of Hindu religious outfits and heads of various mutts in the country would be held at Kochi on March 23 to chalk out further course of action, he said, adding, "defaming the Hindu leaders have to be stopped".

Criticising a section of media for 'playing up the news', he said "the kind of seva(service) done by Amritanandamayi Ashram is unparallelled in the history of the state."

"The current events are seen as a part of a greater national and international conspiracy against the Hindu Dharma. Few fundamentalist organisations, who are envious of Hindu Dharma, are behind maligning the image of our great Saints.

The book had triggered a row as it contained certain allegations and bitter experiences of Tredwell when she was an inmate of the mutt.

The mutt, headquartered at Vallikavu in Kollam district, had already denied the allegations and said its functioning was transparent and "it is an open book".