New Delhi: Angered at the arrest of Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati, VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) activists today (Nov 13, 2004) staged a demonstration in New Delhi with its leaders vowing to "avenge" the step and seeking the intervention of President A P J Abdul Kalam to secure the Pontiff's release.

VHP's working president Ashok Singhal alleged the Shankaracharya's arrest was "as grave an attack on Hindu community as the destruction of Somnath Temple centuries ago" and called for a "fast" tomorrow in the country as the Seer had reportedly not eaten anything since his arrest.

"Shankaracharya, who is the greatest spiritual figure in the world, can't be tried like an ordinary criminal. A committee should be formed to look into the merits of the case before his trial proceeds," he said.

Singhal also demanded that an Act be brought in to provide some sort of immunity to Pontiffs, so that such an incident does not happen in the future.

Terming the arrest of Kanchi Seer to be "as grave an attack on Hindu community as the destruction of Somnath temple centuries ago," he said "we have a Government of non-believers in this country," referring to the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government backed by the Communists and DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam).

"This attack on Hinduism will be avenged," Singhal said.

Questioning the need to arrest Shankaracharya, as "he would not have absconded," VHP international president Vishnu Hari Dalmiya lashed out at the Central Government saying it was "a red, Communist Government which did not know how to respect the saints."

Interestingly, both Singhal and Dalmiya spared Jayalalithaa-led Tamil Nadu Government whose police arrested the Shankaracharya.