Lucknow: After accusing the Uttar Pradesh administration of creating hurdles during his cow protection yatra, Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati has decided to kick off another march on the same issue, this time from Gorakhpur, the bastion of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Avimukteshwaranand, the 46th “Shankaracharya” of the Jyotirmath in Uttarakhand, has been in the spotlight ever since he locked horns with the Yogi government over allegedly being stopped from taking a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj on Mauni Amavasya. He had also claimed that his aides were mistreated. Since then, he has been seen as a figure who has polarised the power circles of UP, with Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya coming out in his support, and Yogi using the term ‘Kaal Nemi’ (demon), without naming the seer.
Avimukteshwaranand arrived in Lucknow from Varanasi as part of his initial yatra. Citing alleged hurdles by the administration, he has decided to embark on a statewide yatra, which is set to begin from Gorakhpur on 3 May, and conclude in Gorakhpur on 23 July. On 24 July, he will address a public gathering in Lucknow.
On Wednesday, the Shankaracharya held a public meeting in Lucknow. Calling it a “Gau Dharma Yuddha”, he said the new yatra aims to further press for his demand to declare the cow as “Rajya Mata” (state mother) in Uttar Pradesh and a complete ban on beef export from the state.
The seer also plans to travel to UP villages to make people aware about “cow-protection”.
The Shankaracharya also remarked that while some of his critics claim he has the support of opposition parties, most people present at the public meeting were from the BJP and had come to support him.
The Lucknow administration had granted permission for the Wednesday event after considerable back and forth, and a list of 16 law and order conditions.
According to the permission letter issued by the Lucknow Police, provocative speeches, controversial slogans, or activities disrupting public life would not be allowed during the programme.
Speakers were instructed not to make remarks against any religion, caste, community, or language. The organisers were also told to ensure there were no speeches targeting any political or religious figure.
Police also barred controversial slogans and prohibited weapons or “harmful objects” at the venue, except for traditional flagpoles. They allowed only a limited number of two- and four-wheelers inside. Parking on public roads was banned, and organisers were told to ensure roads were not blocked under any circumstances.
According to sources close to the Shankaracharya, he avoided any direct verbal attacks on Yogi for now, and may raise the issue more strongly at Gorakhpur as his yatra begins.
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‘We do not want government seers’
The Shankaracharya also praised Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) founder late Kanshi Ram, saying people should learn from his dedication to achieve his mission while working for the cause of cow protection. “Today, from the Kanshi Ram Memorial Site, the new history we are about to write is like the emergence of the Ganga from Gangotri, which will eventually grow into a powerful stream.”
Referring to BSP leader Mayawati, he said she ruled the state four times, adding that her mentor Kanshi Ram used to travel alone with a simple bag, meeting people and explaining his ideas. “We need the same kind of dedication that Kanshi Ram had,” he said.
Taking a dig at “government seers”, Avimukteshwaranand said, “Those seers who wish for the welfare of rulers are not seen here because they are ‘government seers’. We do not want government seers; we want independent seers.”
Criticising the administration over the alleged lathi charge on his aides during the Magh Mela in Prayagraj last month, he said, “Are the young Vedic students (batuks) who study the Vedas not even worthy of your shoes? Even the Mughals did not dare to do what these people have done. Shame on this. You have brought disgrace to your lineage, your community, and your faith.”
Following alleged police lathi charge on his supporters, Avimukteshwaranand went on a protest by giving up food and water, accusing the police of misconduct.
Responding to the controversy without naming him directly, Yogi Adityanath, speaking in the state assembly last month, had said that not everyone can use the title of ‘Shankaracharya’, adding that both religious decorum and the rule of law must be maintained. He also used the term “Kaal Nemi” (demon) in one of his remarks, referring to those who, according to him, take shelter behind religion while weakening Sanatan Dharma.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)