Bhopal/New Delhi: Spiritual guru Asaram Bapu on Thursday said the sexual assault charge against him was politically motivated and, in a veiled reference, blamed Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi. The Congress denied the allegation.

“I am not against any political party but people are telling me that ‘madam’ and her son are behind the conspiracy,” said Asaram Bapu.

“I am not personally blaming anyone. I am telling you what I have heard because you (media) have been compelling me to speak on the issue,” he added.

Some Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including Uma Bharti, have come out in support of the spiritual leader, alleging that he was being targeted for his anti-Congress views.

Asked whether he was being supported by the BJP, Asaram Bapu snapped at the reporters.

“No party is defending me. This is wrong. You are trying to harass me,” said a livid Asaram Bapu.

The spiritual guru was Tuesday served a notice by the Rajasthan Police at his ashram in Indore, Madhya Pradesh asking him to appear before them for questioning on August 30 or earlier.

Citing engagements, the spiritual guru had earlier sought more time to appear before them but on Thursday he said that he was ready to face questions.

“I won’t ask for more time. I am ready,” he said.

A miffed Congress said that it was ‘inappropriate” to make such allegations.

“It is inappropriate to talk like this about big leaders and I would not like to comment on it,” said union Minister for Transport and Highways Oscar Fernandes.

Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury said: “Why would the Congress bother to conspire against him? He has a huge following and is instigating people.”

Meanwhile, the BJP seemed to be distancing itself from the controversy.

“There is no question about saving someone or not. We should let the law take its own course,” party spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.

A 16-year-old girl had last week alleged that Asaram Bapu raped her during one of her stays at his ashram in Rajasthan.

A case has been filed by Rajasthan Police and Asaram Bapu has been served summons to present himself for questioning.

Police have given Bapu a Friday deadline to answer allegations, claims he angrily denounced saying he was “ready to go to prison”.

He has so far failed to report to a police station in the western city of Jodhpur.

“I’m ready to go to prison, that is also a kind of heaven for me,” an incensed Asaram said.

His office has previously rejected the allegations as baseless.

The incident allegedly took place on August 15 in Jodhpur, in Rajasthan, where Asaram was holding a retreat for followers, including the girl and her parents, police said.

Asaram allegedly told the parents he needed to meet their daughter alone after being told of concerns she was possessed by evil spirits, police said.

“The girl along with her parents met Asaram in Jodhpur where the accused took them to a hut on the night of August 15,” deputy police commissioner in Jodhpur, Ajay Lamba, said.

“He asked her parents to recite some religious Mantras at the entrance gate and took the girl inside his room where he allegedly exploited the girl,” Lamba said.

The girl told her parents two days later about the alleged attack and the family travelled to New Delhi to confront him. The guru refused to meet them, prompting them to go to the police, local reports and an unnamed police official said.

“After initial investigation, we issued notice to Asaram to appear before us for interrogation,” the police official said.

“He has to appear before us before August 30. A look-out notice was also issued to prevent him from fleeing the country.”

Asaram uses only one name, with Bapu an honorific meaning “father”.

Asaram has some 350 ashrams in India and overseas, where he teaches yoga, meditation and a spiritual and peaceful existence, according to his website, which also claims his legions of followers consider him a saint.

For many Indians, “godmen” play an integral role in daily life, offering a pathway to enlightenment in return for spiritual devotion and donations to their ashrams, temples and charity projects.