Behind the Mathura Violence: ‘Netaji’ Groups and a Vegetarian Baba

Both groups in the Mathura violence have one common link, a vegetarian baba called Baba Jaigurudev.

“We don’t want to occupy anyone’s land, we just want our questions answered. We want that government which Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose wanted.”

On 18 April, Swadheen Bharat Subhash Sena posted this comment on their Facebook page, in reply to a person who had threatened police action if the organisation failed to vacate Jawahar Bagh in Mathura.

Which, remarkably, is exactly what happened on Thursday night, when a violent clash between police and activists killed 24 people in Jawahar Bagh. Including those belonging to Swadheen Bharat Subhash Sena.

At the outset, Swadheen Bharat Subhash Sena and Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi seem woefully out of date. But on closer inspection, both these groups have one common link - a vegetarian baba called Baba Jaigurudev in Mathura. 

Of Two Netaji Groups, Which Might Have Not Been About Netaji at All

The Swadheen Bharat Subash Sena, along with the Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi were on a ‘satyagraha’ in Jawahar Bagh for two years. Among their demands, is to have the Indian currency be replaced with Azad Hind Fauj currency and cancel the elections of the President and Prime Minister of India. The Allahabad High Court ordered their eviction from the Bagh, which is when the conflict turned violent. It has been reported that they were armed with grenades and rifles.

Also Read: Everything You Need to Know About the Mindless Violence in Mathura

Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi was also at Jawahar Bagh on 2 June. Around 3,000 activists of the organisation pelted stones and opened fire on the police. The group is led by Ram Vriksha Yadav, who is absconding along with thousands of his supporters.

But, it has been argued that Netaji might have just been a front for these two organisations. According to the District Magistrate (DM) Rajesh Kumar, their members have occupied hundreds of acres of land at Jawahar Bagh on the pretext of holding a ‘dharna’ since more than two years.

But the question is, if these groups wanted nothing more than a return to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s legacy, then why were they occupying land in the middle of Mathura? The activity on the group’s YouTube page goes back till 7 years, then why did the ‘satyagraha’ commence two and a half years ago?

Some answers to these questions can be found in the life history of a baba with an estimated empire of 12,000 crores.

Jai Gurudev Baba: The Common Link

The one thing which links both Swadheen Bharat Subash Sena and Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi, is that both are breakaway followers of Jai Guru Dev, a baba who espouses the virtues of vegetarianism. Baba Jai Gurudev or Tulsidas died in 2012 at the age of 116 years, after amassing huge wealth. He is reported to have been an influential figure, even floating a party called Doordarshi Party.

After his death in 2012, Pankaj Yadav succeeded him. But not everyone was happy with the succession. According to a report in the Citizen.in, a rival group was insulted at being left out of the succession and held a protest meeting at Jawahar Bagh. Led by Ram Vriksha Yadav. The same man who, according to the District Magistrate in Mathura, is the leader of Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi.

Meanwhile, Baba Jai Gurudev (Pankaj) is expanding his empire. According to Baba Jai Gurudev’s website, he is planning to build an ashram on the national highway in Mathura for which he is asking for donations. But only from vegetarians.