New Delhi: Swami Avimukteswaranand, the forty sixth head of Uttarakhand’s Jyotirumath, or “Shankaracharya,” who final 12 months introduced his resolution to “excommunicate” Rahul Gandhi from Hinduism, obtained assist from the Congress on Monday amid controversy over Uttar Pradesh Police’s blocking of him from taking a sacred tub at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj. Mauni Amavasya, auspicious new moon day.
He was reportedly accompanied by a big group of followers, estimated at round 200 to 300 individuals, and was stopped by police as a result of he didn’t have the mandatory permits.
The Congress alleged that the Yogi Adityanath authorities focused the Hindu visionary as he had repeatedly criticized the Bharatiya Janata Get together’s choices, together with the dedication ceremony of the “half-constructed” Ram temple in Ayodhya, mismanagement of the Kumbh Mela and the invention of a physique floating within the Ganges river throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Many thought they (Bharatiya Janata Get together) have been solely towards a minority. However take a look at their response to Hinduism’s supreme saint. For the primary time, he was not in a position to take a holy tub. What occurred yesterday didn’t occur even beneath the watchful eye of the Mughals and the British. However this was executed by a authorities that claims to be the savior of Hinduism,” Congress chief Pawan Khera informed a press convention.
Mr. Avimukteswaranand was declared the Abbot of the monastery in September 2022. In October 2022, the Supreme Court docket handed an interim order halting the coronation of Swami Avimukteshwaranand as Shankaracharya of Jyotimas whereas listening to a petition difficult Swami Avimukteshwaranand’s appointment.
His relationship with the Congress was at occasions bitter and chilly as he had conflicting views on Rahul Gandhi, typically praising him and typically criticizing him.
In June 2024, when the Bharatiya Janata Get together focused Rahul for allegedly calling Hindus “violent” in his first speech as opposition chief, Avimukteshwaranand defended Congress leaders and identified that Rahul’s feedback have been being misrepresented.
“We listened rigorously to all of Rahul Gandhi’s speeches. He clearly emphasised that Hinduism rejects violence,” the Pope informed reporters on the time. However a 12 months later, he rebelled towards Rahul and “excommunicated” Rahul from Hinduism for “insulting” the traditional Sanskrit Manusmriti textual content.
“He was additionally served a discover on this regard by the Shankaracharya Arithmetic, however he neither apologized for it nor gave any response to the discover. He has subsequently been formally excommunicated from Hinduism by the Shankaracharya Arithmetic,” the non secular chief mentioned in a press release on Might 6, 2025.
As just lately as January 16, Avimukteswaranand had appealed to the Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Tyath Kshetra Belief to “not enable” Rahul to go to the Ram temple if the Congress chief plans to take action. “Those that abuse Hindus don’t need to go there,” Avimukteswaranand was quoted as saying.
Through the years, Rahul has repeatedly accused the BJP-RSS of inserting the Manusmriti, the foundational however controversial doc that outlines Hindu legislation and custom, together with the caste system, above the Indian Structure.
Following Pope’s remarks towards Rahul, the Congress accused him of working on the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Get together. With Mr. Shankaracharya presently at warfare with the Bharatiya Janata Get together itself, the Congress, sensing a chance to undermine the get together’s Hindutva claims, wasted no time in defending him.
“Ye na kum ke hai, na ram ke hai (They’re of no use to anybody or to Lord Ram). They’re solely after energy and cash. They should be uncovered. They’ve given Z-plus safety to Mohan Bhagwat. Is Bhagwat greater than Shankaracharya? That is the work of asuras (demigods). Saints don’t bow earlier than kings. The Prime Minister ought to intervene on this shameful incident.
(Edited by Shashank Kishan)
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