Pro-Putin youth outfit booked for attacking Hindu culture

Moscow, Apr 12 (PTI) A pro-Putin youth outfit has been
booked on charges of "extremism" for attacking Hindu culture
in Russia's far eastern city of Khabarovsk, reports said.

The Khabarovsk unit of "Molodaya Gvardia" (Young
Guards), the youth wing of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin-led
United Russia party, distributed a leaflet at the festival of
Indian culture organised by the International Society of
Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in the city.

In the leaflet, the outfit cautioned Russians from
sending their children to courses of Yoga and Indian dances,
Kasparov.ru website of the Kremlin-critic former Chess
Champion Garry Kasparov reported.

"Under the wrapper of presentable Indian aesthetics,
behind the bright dresses and peace loving statements hides a
cruel and aggressive sect, dangerous for the health and
wellbeing of the citizens," the leaflet said.

It also claimed that the followers of Krishna are
"infamous in the world for crimes against humanity and society
and were involved in drug-trafficking and arms trade".

In response to a writ petition filed by the regional
prosecutor in the public interest, the court in Khabarovsk
ruled to qualify pro-Putin youth group's leaflet as a
manifestation of extremism.

Court issued a stern warning to the leader of the local
chapter of 'Young Guards' to refrain from acts of extremism.
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