Devendra Fadnavis' wife in trouble over miracle gift

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis' wife Amruta received flak from rationalists for accepting necklace (chanting beads) apparently pulled out from thin air by self-declared godman Guruvanand Swami at a function in Pune. However, she clarified that she did not believe in any miracles, but accepted the necklace as it was gifted by an elderly person.

At a function organised by Pune-based educational institute Suryadatta Group of Institutes, the godman apparently pulled a necklace of beads out of nowhere and gave it to Ms Fadnavis.

Rationalists have demanded that Mr Fadnavis should issue a clarification on the incident and tender an apology. In a statement, president of Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti Avinash Patil challenged the godman to perform the miracle in controlled conditions as specified by the samiti.

The rationalist body claimed that they are willing to offer him a prize of Rs 21 lakh to the godman if he was able to perform his miracle before the samiti.

Meanwhile, in her statement Ms Fadnavis said, “I offered my salutations to the godman as I have been inculcated the values of respecting elderly people. These are the values that I have been brought up with and these are the values that I shall continue to adhere to. Swami Guruvanand gave me a necklace as a blessing and I would like to reiterate here that I do not believe in miracles of any sort.”

Following the assassination of rationalists Dr Narendra Dabholkar on August 20, 2013, the state government had passed the Anti-Superstition Bill in December 2013. As per the provisions of the Act, the one who performs the miracle and the one who receives any benefaction are held equally responsible.