Prayagraj Mela Administration Intensifies Standoff with Swami Avimuktesharwanand Over Mauni Amavasya Incident
The ongoing confrontation between the Prayagraj mela administration and Swami Avimuktesharwanand has escalated, with officials issuing another formal notice demanding an explanation for his actions during the sacred Mauni Amavasya celebrations. The notice specifically addresses an incident where the Swami and his followers allegedly entered the Sangam area on a palki without obtaining proper authorization.
Administration's Allegations of Rule Violation and Safety Risks
The notice, directed to Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati as camp organizer of Shri Shankaracharya Ashram, Shakambhari Peeth, and the organizer of Badrikashram Himalaya Seva Shivir, outlines serious accusations. It states that on January 18, during Mauni Amavasya, Swami Avimuktesharwanand forcefully breached the barrier at Triveni Pontoon Bridge No. 2, which was reserved exclusively for emergencies. He then proceeded via the Sangam Upper Road on a baggi accompanied by a crowd, all without permission from competent authorities.
Officials emphasized that this occurred despite repeated announcements by Mela Police and administration via loudspeakers and wireless sets, clearly prohibiting any vehicles in the Sangam area. At that critical time, the area was experiencing an extreme surge of devotees, with only pedestrian movement permitted due to high sensitivity regarding pilgrim safety. The administration claims that Swami ji's actions created extreme difficulties for police and administrative personnel in crowd management, and he attempted to take his baggi into the prohibited Sangam Nose area where millions were bathing. When stopped, he and his followers allegedly caused chaos and confusion.
The notice further warns that such entry could have triggered a stampede, posing a high possibility of massive loss of life. It also mentions that these actions disrupted Mauni Amavasya arrangements, seriously threatening the safety of lakhs of devotees arriving for the holy dip. Additionally, the administration points out that Swami ji displayed boards in the mela identifying himself as 'Shankaracharya,' despite a Supreme Court stay on his official status, potentially constituting contempt of court.
Officials have given Swami ji 24 hours to explain why his organization's land and facilities shouldn't be cancelled and why he shouldn't be permanently banned from the mela. Failure to respond within this timeframe will be interpreted as having nothing to say, leading to a decision based on available evidence.
Swami's Camp Denies Allegations and Accuses Police of Misconduct
In response, Shailendra Yogiraj Sarkar, national spokesman for Swami Avimukteshawaranand, expressed outrage among devotees, accusing the government of acting with a vindictive attitude. He noted that the mela administration pasted another notice behind the Shankaracharya camp's tent with a backdated date, further fueling tensions.
Pankaj Pandey, camp in-charge of Badrikshram Himalaya Sewa Shivir, submitted a detailed reply refuting the allegations. He described the mela authority's claims as malicious, misleading, deceptive, and devoid of facts. Pandey clarified that the notice mentions a baggi, typically a four-wheeled vehicle drawn by horses, but asserted that no such baggi was present in Swami ji's camp, inviting verification through CCTV footage.
Instead, Pandey explained that on Mauni Amavasya, Swami ji was proceeding towards Triveni Sangam in a traditional palki (palanquin) as part of religious rituals dating back over 2,500 years to the time of Adi Shankaracharya. This palki, carried by devotees on their shoulders and occasionally pushed, is fitted with six-inch steel wheels to assist but uses no horses or motors. Pandey emphasized that this practice is an integral part of religious tradition and cannot be classified as a cart due to its non-traditional wagon-style wheels.
He further alleged that on-duty police officers initially escorted Swami ji's procession toward the Sangam, with escorting policemen requesting a local barricade to be opened. However, police and administrative officers later insulted Swami ji's dignity—considered the living form of Adi Shankaracharya and Lord Badrinvishal—and desecrated the pilgrimage site's sanctity. Followers, including Dandi Sanyasis, Vedpathis, Brahmacharis, and elderly householders, were allegedly pulled by their hair and forcibly beaten by police, while Swami ji was treated like a criminal, dragged through various mela locations and paraded in what Pandey called a public mockery.
Moreover, the palki was allegedly left on a slope near a fort, causing it to slide and fall into a river trench, described as a heinous and disgusting attempt on Swami ji's life by authorities. The reply also accuses high-ranking officials and conspirators of misusing police force to create chaos and attempt assault. Pandey confirmed that a response regarding the 'Shankaracharya' title issue has been mailed to mela authorities, adding another layer to this complex dispute.
