Someone who talks about Sanatan Dharma being told he is not a Sankaracharya: Avimukteshwaranand

Vartha Bharati | 14-02-2026 | 17:26:00 IST

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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Voting begins for Assam's 126 assembly seats

09-04-2026 ¦ 09-04-2026 IST

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Guwahati (PTI): Polling for all 126 Assam assembly constituencies began on Thursday to decide the electoral fate of 722 candidates, officials said.

In the high-stakes election, the ruling BJP is aiming for a third consecutive term in office, while the Congress seeks to wrest power after being ousted in 2016.

Polling, being held in a single phase, began at 7 am and will conclude at 5 pm. Long queues of voters were seen outside polling stations from early morning.

An electorate of 2.50 crore, including 1.25 crore women and 318 from the third gender, can exercise their franchise in 31,490 polling stations across the state.

Prominent candidates include Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Congress state president Gaurav Gogoi, assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary, Leader of the opposition Debabrata Saikia, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal, Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi, and Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) chief Lurinjyoti Gogoi.

Several cabinet ministers, including the AGP’s Atul Bora and Keshav Mahanta, and the BPF’s Charan Boro are also in the fray.

The Congress has the highest of 99 contestants, followed by the BJP (90), AIUDF (30), NDA allies AGP (26) and BPF (11).

Opposition alliance’s Raijor Dal is contesting in 13, AJP in 10, CPI(M) in 3 and APHLC in 2. Outside the two coalitions, the AAP is contesting in 18 seats, UPPL in 18, TMC 22, JMM 16 and there are 258 independents.

The ruling NDA’s main constituents are the BJP, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bodo Peoples’ Front (BPF) while the opposition alliance comprises the Congress, Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), CPI(M), All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC) and CPI(ML).

The counting of votes is scheduled on May 4.