NEW DELHI,19 Jan 2026: The Congress on Monday launched a scathing attack on the BJP over alleged “mistreatment” of Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati at Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) on Sunday and urged Prime Minister Modi to intervene against this “shameful incident.”
Congress spokesman Pawan Khera told a press conference here that “Ye na kaam ke hain na Raam ke. They are only after power and money as beyond that they don’t care about religion and faith.
The Congress attack came a day after a brief disruption when police stopped the Jyotipeeth Shakaracharya from proceeding to the Sangam along with a large number of followers.
Superintendent of Police Neeraj Panday said the Shankaracharya, without prior permission, attempted to enter the bathing ghat with around 200-25 followers, breaking a barricade at Bridge No 2. He refused to stop when told about the heavy rush of devotees and later returned without taking the holy dip, he said.
Khera said: “We are all saddened by the mistreatment meted out to the Shankaracharya, who has gone on a hunger strike and silence but it seems no one on the government cares.”
He claimed the Modi government unleshed its entire troll army against the Swami since he did not bow down before it. He said: The saints do not bow before the kings. It is the kings who bow before the saints.” He asked PM Modi to intervene against this shameful incident, as “otherwise you are not Sanatani.”
“Crime of the Shakaracharya is that he does not chant your praise, he condemns you, he objects to the Prana Pratishtha of a half-built temple, he raises questions on the mismanagement of the Mahakumbh and he speaks about the bodies floating in the mother Ganga’s lap during Covid,” Khera said.
He said Swami Avimukteshwaranand was stopped from taking the “shah snan” by a government that provides Z+ security to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.
More than 4.52 crore devotees took a holy dip at the Sangam on Sunday on the occasion of the Mauni Amavasya, the most auspicious ritual bath of the Magh Mela.
