Congress Slams BJP as ‘Anti-Sanatan’ Over ‘Midnight Notice’ to Shankaracharya; Alleges Unprecedented Interference in Hindu Traditions
New Delhi: The Congress party on Tuesday launched a fierce attack on the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government and the Central leadership today, accusing them of gross arrogance, constitutional violation, and attempting to divide Hindu society by challenging the legitimacy of Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth.
Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters, 24 Akbar Road, Pawan Khera, Chairman, Media & Publicity (Communication Department), AICC, presented a video chronology showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying obeisance to Shankaracharya figures in the past. He contrasted this with the current situation, alleging that the seer — whom he described as one of the foremost saints of Sanatana Dharma — has been barred from performing the traditional Shahi Snan on Mauni Amavasya at the Triveni Sangam during the ongoing Magh Mela preparations linked to Maha Kumbh.
Khera claimed that for the past 48 hours, Swami Avimukteshwaranand has been sitting on a peaceful dharna in severe winter cold, without food or water, simply demanding the right to carry out an age-old ritual he has performed for over 40 years. Instead of dialogue or apology, he said, the Uttar Pradesh administration issued a notice around midnight questioning the seer’s status as Shankaracharya and demanding proof of his title.
“This is the height of arrogance… vinash kaale vipreet buddhi,” Khera declared. “They used to say ‘kaagaz dikhao’ to Muslims; now they are saying the same to the shiro mani of Hindus. Where have we reached?”
He strongly asserted that the position of Shankaracharya is determined solely by the unbroken guru-shishya parampara and centuries-old tradition — not by any District Magistrate, Chief Minister, or state administration. Citing the landmark 1954 Supreme Court judgment in the Shirur Math case, Khera argued that any state interference in the management and traditions of religious maths is impermissible. He further contended that the midnight notice violates Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, which guarantee freedom of religion and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
Khera accused the BJP of selective reverence: “When the Prime Minister bowed before him, he was Shankaracharya. When he did not question gau maas issues or the partial pran pratishtha of the Ram Temple, he was Shankaracharya. When he did not raise questions about the mismanagement and deaths during Mahakumbh, he was Shankaracharya. The moment he speaks truth to power, suddenly he is not.”
He highlighted alleged police high-handedness during the incident, including manhandling of devotees, beating of an 85-year-old disciple, seizure of the royal staff (rajdand), and disruption of the palanquin procession. Khera questioned why any Indian citizen — let alone a revered seer — should require permission from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath (referred to as Ajay Singh Bisht) to take a holy dip in the Ganga, which he called “not anyone’s private property.”
The Congress leader demanded that Prime Minister Modi personally intervene, bow before Swami Avimukteshwaranand, and apologize. He warned that Hindus across the world are watching with pain, anger, and anguish, describing the episode as unprecedented — something that did not happen even under Mughal or British rule, but is now occurring under self-proclaimed custodians of Hinduism.
Responding to questions, Khera reiterated the party’s firm stand, confirmed active involvement of the Uttar Pradesh Congress unit, and dismissed BJP’s internal leadership processes as sham announcements rather than genuine elections. He mocked reported “boss” dynamics between top BJP and RSS figures amid the suffering of saints, and redirected attention to the core demand: an apology to the Shankaracharya.
The controversy is linked to a long-pending Supreme Court appeal regarding the rightful claimant to the Jyotish Peeth Shankaracharya seat. The mela administration has cited a 2022 court order restraining new title consecrations until final adjudication. As the protest continues, the episode has intensified the political and religious debate in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Maha Kumbh 2025.
