New Delhi: Targeting the Centre for the Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi's arrest, the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) today (Nov 21, 2004) accused the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government of being "equally responsible" and said the action against the Seer in Andhra Pradesh was not possible without the State's Congress regime seeking advice from the Union Government.

"The Centre says it is an issue of the Tamil Nadu Government. But where was the Shankaracharya arrested? In Mehboob Nagar. And where is Mehboob Nagar? In Andhra Pradesh where Congress is in power," senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, who led the party's 'Upwaas Dharna' (fast) in New Delhi to protest the arrest and police custody of the Hindu Pontiff, said.

Spotlight: Kanchi Jayendra Saraswathi's Arrest

Winding up the daylong fasting and 'dharna' at Parliament Street, he said, "It is not possible that the Shankaracharya was arrested in Mehboob Nagar in Andhra Pradesh without the Chief Minister of the State consulting the Centre on the issue."

He claimed the arrest was made in the dead of the night after daylong discussions involving the Tamil Nadu police, the Andhra Pradesh police, the State Government and the Centre.

"The Centre is as much responsible as is the Tamil Nadu Government," he said.

Attacking Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, he alleged the arrest is an act of vindictiveness carried out in reaction to the Shankaracharya's commenting in an interview after the Lok Sabha election that one reason for the AIADMK's (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) poll debacle could be the Chief Minister's "arrogance."