5 months ago
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The Congress connected Tuesday (January 20, 2026) criticised the Uttar Pradesh authorities implicit a announcement issued to Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, seeking an mentation for his usage of the rubric of Shankaracharya.
Addressing a property conference, Congress media and publicity section caput Pawan Khera questioned whether immoderate authorities authorization had the close to situation the presumption of a Hindu seer.
Mr. Khera said the enactment marked an unprecedented intrusion into spiritual traditions and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of treble standards.
“Those who erstwhile asked Muslims — kaagaz dikhao [show papers] — are present asking the aforesaid of Hinduism’s apical seer,” the Congress person said.
The remarks came amid a contention astatine the Prayagraj Magh Mela, wherever Swami Avimukteshwaranand was stopped and his followers manhandled by the constabulary connected Sunday portion proceeding to instrumentality a beatified dip astatine the Sangam connected the juncture of Mauni Amavasya.
Following the incident, helium sat connected a protestation extracurricular his campy for the past 48 hours, seeking an apology from elder mela and constabulary officials.
Subsequently, the mela medication issued a announcement asking the seer to clarify however helium was utilizing the rubric of Shankaracharya of the Jyotish Peeth.
“Instead of apologising, officials served him a announcement successful the mediate of night, questioning his presumption arsenic a Shankaracharya,” Mr. Khera said, adding, “Does immoderate territory magistrate, constabulary commissioner, Chief Minister oregon Prime Minister person the authorization to question the presumption of a Shankaracharya?”
Mr. Khera alleged that the enactment followed the seer’s disapproval of the Narendra Modi authorities connected issues specified arsenic cattle slaughter, the consecration of the Ram temple astatine Ayodhya prematurely and the alleged mismanagement of the Kumbh Mela.
“As agelong arsenic helium did not question the government, helium was accepted arsenic a Shankaracharya. Now, papers are being demanded from him,” helium said.
Calling the announcement a usurpation of law, Mr. Khera accused the Uttar Pradesh authorities of arrogance and said the occurrence had drawn wide attraction among Hindus successful India and abroad. “What is happening is unprecedented. Every azygous Hindu crossed the satellite is watching what is happening successful Uttar Pradesh. These radical are sinners. They volition ne'er beryllium forgiven,” helium said.
