By Arun Pratap SinghGarhwal Post Bureau
Haridwar, 25 Jan: The Congress party has expectedly extended firm support to Swami Avimukteshwaranand following his recent confrontation with the administration in Prayagraj during the ongoing Magh Mela there. The Congress party has described the episode as an instance of mistreatment of the sage. Addressing a press conference at the Haridwar Press Club here, today, Congress National Spokesperson Alok Sharma, accompanied by local party leaders, asserted that the administration should have facilitated the Swami’s ritual bath with full dignity and respect and asserted that the Congress stands with him in every possible manner.
Alok Sharma alleged that Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and his disciples were subjected to misbehaviour by the administration in Prayagraj, an act the Congress strongly condemns. He claimed that miscreants forcibly entered the Swami’s camp on Saturday, following which the Shankaracharya apprehended a threat to his life. In view of the situation, he demanded that the administration ensure adequate security for Swami Avimukteshwaranand.
Responding to questions on the differing statements issued by various seers regarding the Shankaracharya’s protest, Alok Sharma said that as a party worker he does not consider it appropriate to speak for or against any saint, adding that all Akhadas and seers command his respect. However, he remarked that the slogan “Batoge toh Katoge” was coined by the BJP itself and said people should reflect on who is attempting to create divisions. He reiterated that the Congress supports the Shankaracharya and opposes the actions of the administration in the matter.
During the press conference, Alok Sharma also targeted the Uttarakhand government on the Ankita Bhandari case, alleging that the recommendation for a CBI inquiry was made in haste only after a call for strike. He questioned the legal basis of the recommendation, pointing out that no details have been shared and the relevant letter has not been made public. He accused the Dhami government of misleading the people of the state. He maintained that, if the government’s intentions are clear, the letter recommending the CBI probe should be placed in the public domain, warning that failure to do so could lead to renewed public protests and sustained opposition by the Congress.
It may also be recalled that the Congress has traditionally shared a close relationship with Swami Avimukteshwaranand, whose ascendency to the revered post of Shankaracharya continues to remain under judicial scrutiny. His Guru, Shankaracharya Swarupanand Saraswati, was also known to have maintained close ties with the Congress leadership. Swami Avimukteshwaranand has been notably vocal in his opposition to the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is known to issue political statements on a regular basis, often placing him at the centre of political discourse.
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