Prayagraj Shankaracharya Stands Firm in Protest Against Police Behavior
Jyotishpeethadhishwar Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati Ji Maharaj has taken a strong stand. The head of Jyotirmath continues his sit-in protest at the Magh Mela campus in Prayagraj. He has been observing anshan for over twenty-four hours now. The spiritual leader refuses to take a holy dip in the Ganga until certain conditions are met.
Demands for Dignity and Protocol
Swami Avimukteshwaranand stated his position clearly on Monday. He will not enter the sacred waters until the police and mela administration escort him with proper dignity and protocol. The Shankaracharya also demands an official apology from authorities. He wants them to say sorry for Sunday's incident at the mela grounds.
Tension erupted on Sunday during Mauni Amavasya. Approximately two hundred followers attempted to take the Shankaracharya's chariot toward Sangam for the holy dip. Police officers stopped the procession at pontoon bridge number two. An argument developed between cops and the devotees.
A Night in the Cold Without Food or Water
After authorities halted the chariot procession, the situation escalated. Police allegedly left the Shankaracharya on the road. The spiritual leader spent the entire night sitting in protest near his tent. He braved the cold temperatures without shelter.
Sources close to the Shankaracharya reveal concerning details. He has not consumed any food for the past twenty-four hours. The religious leader has also given up drinking water during this protest period. Followers report that no mela police or administrative officials visited him during this time.
Allegations of Police Misconduct and Violence
The Shankaracharya made serious allegations against law enforcement. He claims police insulted and beat saints and ascetics during the confrontation. Officers repeatedly used abusive language according to his account. Authorities spread misinformation through loudspeakers, alleging that Shankaracharya followers used foul language.
More than a dozen followers and disciples suffered injuries in the beating according to the spiritual leader. Followers presented additional disturbing claims. They say police officers forcibly took Swami Ji away multiple times. Officers dropped him at different locations three or four times before other police took him elsewhere.
A Determined Stand for Respect
When plainclothes police officers finally dropped Shankaracharya Ji Maharaj, he made his decision. He sat down and declared he would not return to camp until receiving an apology. The administration must apologize for its actions and escort him respectfully to Sangam ghat.
The Shankaracharya expressed his devotion to the Magh Mela tradition. "I vow to attend every Magh Mela but stay in the open," he stated. "I do not need any permission from officials to meet Maa Ganga." He even suggested a darker motive behind the police actions. The spiritual leader accused the state government of plotting to get him killed. He believes this explains why pressure was exerted to remove him from his palki.
Despite the serious nature of these allegations, sources indicate the Shankaracharya has no immediate plans for legal action. He is not planning to file an FIR or pursue a court case against the police administration at this time. His protest remains focused on receiving an apology and respectful treatment from authorities.
The standoff continues as the spiritual leader maintains his vigil. The Magh Mela administration now faces a delicate situation requiring careful resolution.
