Notice issued to Swami Avimukteshwaranand, seeking explaination on use of Shankaracharya title
Prayagraj (UP)(PTI): Amid a row over authorities "stopping" Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati from taking a holy dip in the Ganga here, the Mela administration has issued a notice asking him to explain how he was using the title of Shankaracharya of the Jyotish Peeth.
Trouble broke out on Sunday when Saraswati along with his supporters was on his way to take dip in the Sangam on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya and the police allegedly stopped him.
Following the incident, Saraswati sat in protest outside his camp, giving up food and water, and demanded an apology from senior officials of the mela administration and the police. The protest is still going on.
The notice issued on Monday by the Vice Chairman of the Prayagraj Mela Authority Dayanand Prasad also refers to a civil appeal pending before the Supreme Court, in which the court had ordered that until the appeal is disposed of, no religious leader can be consecrated as the Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth.
The notice states that it is clear from the current situation that no religious leader has been consecrated as the Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth, yet Saraswati has declared himself as the Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth on a board at his camp in the Prayagraj Magh Mela of 2025-26.
"This act/display of yours shows disregard for the order of the Honourable Supreme Court. Within 24 hours of receiving this letter, please clarify how you are using the word Shankaracharya before your name," the notice said.
Reacting to the notice, Saraswati's media in-charge, Shailendra Yogiraj claimed that Maharaj Ji had already been consecrated as the Shankaracharya of the Jyotish Peeth before the Supreme Court order.
Yogiraj claimed that on the Mauni Amavasya bathing festival, Saraswati was peacefully going to take a bath at the Sangam on his palanquin with his followers when the police asked him to get down from the palanquin and go to the bathing ghat.
He claimed that when he refused to get down from the palanquin, the police beat up his supporters, injuring about 15 of them.
All the injured have undergone medical examinations, and Swami Ji will file a case against the police and administration officials, Yogiraj said.
Yogiraj also said that Swami Ji would not enter his camp until the Mela administration apologises and arrange for him to bathe according to protocol.
Mela Adhikari Rishiraj claimed that Saraswati and his followers broke through the barricades and came to the Sangam Nose, and the administration took this step to prevent a stampede.
"By breaking the barricades, they reached the Sangam Nose on Sunday. To prevent any stampede-like situation on the main bathing day, the administration intervened. We have evidence, and vehicles were not permitted under any circumstances on the main bathing festival," he had said.
"Several sadhus and seers, including those camping near Swami Ji, took the holy dip. No saint was disrespected. The arrangements made for devotees and Kalpvasis were strictly implemented because their safety is our top priority," he had stated.
The Congress on Monday launched a scathing attack on the BJP over the alleged "mistreatment" meted out to Saraswati, and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must intervene against this "shameful incident.
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Vijay unable to prove majority, not invited for CM oath ceremony: Sources
Chennai: Actor-politician Vijay has reportedly not been invited to take oath as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after failing to demonstrate support from the required number of MLAs, sources in Raj Bhavan said.
According to media reports that quoted sources in the office of R.N. Ravi Arlekar, Vijay could not prove the backing of 118 legislators, the majority mark in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Despite last-minute efforts to secure support from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazagam (AMMK), and an IUML legislator, Vijay reportedly managed support from only 116 MLAs, falling short by two members.
Sources said Vijay failed to submit letters of support from the VCK and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
Later, the IUML issued a statement clarifying that it was not part of the TVK-led alliance.
Meanwhile, AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran is also said to have informed the Governor that his party would support the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) instead.
Earlier in the evening, Vijay had met Governor Arlekar and staked claim to form the government, stating that he enjoyed the support of 118 MLAs.
