Chennai: The arrest of Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi was something that needed to be protested as it had caused agony to all, senior BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader and former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, said today (Nov 22, 2004).

On the arrest of the Acharya he said, "Certainly that has to be strongly reacted against and opposed. We in BJP have also protested", he told reporters at the airport soon after his arrival in Chennai from Mumbai.

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"I do not remember any earlier occasion that BJP and its leadership sat on a dharna and even fasting as this is something that needs to be protested against. Here is something that has caused agony to all", he said.

He said that the BJP senior leaders, under the leadership of former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee had called on the President A P J Abdul Kalam recently and pointed out to him that "while in every case law must take its course, there are so many precedents when even political leaders, sought to be prosecuted, have been extended courtesies".

Here was a case of not just a political leader or a respectable person, but "an institution of hallowed memory related to the heritage of Adhi Sankara....", he said.

Advani, said that he would be meeting the Junior Acharya Vijayendra Saraswathi, at Kancheepuram and if possible also Jayendra, before arriving in Chennai to address a public meeting later in the evening.