In a heated escalation of tensions at Prayagraj’s Sangam Ghat, a recent clash between Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and the Magh Mela administration has sparked widespread concern within the Hindu community. The incident, unfolding amid the sacred confluence of rivers, has drawn sharp criticism from prominent spiritual leaders, including Swami Jitendra Saraswati from Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, and Mahamandaleshwar Gyan Das Maharaj from Varanasi.
Mahamandaleshwar Gyan Das Maharaj expressed profound dismay, labeling the episode as a ‘deeply unfortunate and alarming’ blow to Sanatan Dharma. He condemned the police and administration’s handling of young sevaks, arguing it sows division among Hindus. ‘Those responsible must face action,’ he urged, emphasizing the need to punish culprits to reunite the fractured Hindu society.
Swami Jitendra Saraswati, speaking from Varanasi, took a more pointed stance. He recalled past instances where bathuk groups had clashed with police and defended the barricades erected for safety during royal baths at Kumbh or Magh Mela. These measures ensure raths are parked 2 km away, keeping the bathing area free of vehicles and materials.
Questioning the refusal to walk just 50 meters, Swami Jitendra remarked, ‘What arrogance is this before Mother Ganga? A son sheds all before his mother, yet here ego prevails.’ He further challenged Avimukteshwaranand’s claim to the Shankaracharya title, noting no successor was present at Swaroopanand Ji’s samadhi, and Supreme Court restrictions on related banners. Alleging political conspiracy with Congress and Socialist Party involvement, he called for introspection in the community to preserve harmony at sacred sites.