Varanasi (PTI): In a veiled attack on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati on Saturday said someone who talks about Sanatan Dharma is being told he is not a Shankaracharya at all.

His remarks came a day after Adityanath said in the state Assembly that not everyone could use the title of Shankaracharya and stressed that religious decorum and rule of law must be maintained during all events.

Saraswati said that in Sanatan Dharma, a Shankaracharya is one who works for the religion and upholds truth.

Speaking to mediapersons here, he said the definition of Shankaracharya being projected by some had never existed earlier.

“In Sanatan Dharma, a Shankaracharya is someone who works for Sanatan Dharma. The first attribute of Sanatan Dharma is truth. One who speaks the truth, protects cows and safeguards Sanatan Dharma is a Shankaracharya,” he added.

Without naming anyone, Saraswati said, “Anyone who supports him (apparently pointing towards Adityanath) is being called a Shankaracharya. Someone who talks about Sanatan Dharma is being told he is not a Shankaracharya at all.”

Adityanath on Friday had said in the House that, “Not every person can write Shankaracharya before his name. Not everyone can claim to be the acharya of a peeth and vitiate the atmosphere at will. Everyone has to follow certain limits.”

The remarks followed a dispute between the Magh Mela administration and Saraswati over the use of the title Shankaracharya during the event in Prayagraj last month and the circumstances under which he was stopped while heading towards the Sangam for a holy dip on Mauni Amavasya on January 18.

In an apparent reference to the controversy, Adityanath questioned the opposition's stand and said those speaking of morality should introspect.

“At a place where crores of devotees have assembled, the exit gate through which people leave after taking a dip cannot be used for entry. Any such attempt can trigger a stampede and endanger lives,” Adityanath said.

A responsible and disciplined individual would never indulge in any conduct that could jeopardise public safety, he added.

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New Delhi (PTI): "I go to Parliament to create impact, not ruckus," said Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Saturday as he rejected allegations levelled against him by the Aam Aadmi Party, calling them "false" and part of a "coordinated campaign".

In a video, Chadha dismissed claims that he did not join opposition walkouts, terming the charge a "blatant lie".

He challenged his detractors to cite even a single instance where he failed to participate and said parliamentary proceedings are recorded through CCTV cameras.

Refuting another allegation that he refused to sign a motion related to the Chief Election Commissioner, Chadha said no party leader had asked him, either formally or informally, to sign it. He added that several other MPs from his party had also not signed the motion.

The MP said his focus in Parliament has been on raising public issues such as GST, income tax, air pollution in Delhi, water concerns in Punjab, public healthcare, education, railway passenger issues, menstrual health, unemployment and inflation.

Chadha said that he goes to Parliament to "create impact not ruckus" as it runs on taxpayers' money and it is his responsibility to highlight their concerns. "Every lie will be exposed," he said.