Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati Calls for Cow Devotees to Mobilize in Lucknext Month
In a significant development, Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati has issued a clarion call to cow devotees nationwide, urging them to begin preparations to converge in Lucknow on March 11. This announcement comes amid escalating tensions over the Uttar Pradesh government's stance on cow protection policies.
Ultimatum to Yogi Adityanath Reaches Midpoint with No Concessions
The seer highlighted that Wednesday marked the completion of 20 days out of a 40-day ultimatum delivered to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The ultimatum demands that the Chief Minister prove his credentials as a real Hindu through concrete actions. Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati expressed disappointment, stating that Yogi Adityanath has shown no tangible signs of adhering to Hindu principles during this period.
Critique of Mahant's Role in Secular Governance
Addressing reporters in Varanasi on Thursday, the Swami articulated a firm stance on the role of religious leaders in governance. He asserted that a mahant should not serve as a full-time salaried employee in any secular position, as this contradicts the dignity and sanctity of sannyasa (renunciation).
He called upon all akharas, mahamandaleshwars, and mahants to step forward and scrutinize Yogi Adityanath's actions through scripture-based arguments. If these acts cannot be proven to align with scriptures, then why should Yogi Adityanath's actions not be categorized as hypocrisy? he questioned pointedly.
Symbolic Gestures Fail to Address Core Demands
During the 20-day waiting period, the Swami noted that the government has undertaken only symbolic measures, such as making the film Godan tax-free. However, he emphasized that this move does little to address the primary demands put forth by cow protection advocates.
- Declaring the cow as the state mother
- Implementing a complete ban on beef export
He criticized the government for prioritizing entertainment tax exemptions over substantive protections for mother cows. The government's foremost duty should be to confer constitutional respect upon the mother cow, rather than seeking superficial solutions on screen, he remarked.
Uttar Pradesh's Meat Export Dominance Under Scrutiny
Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati further lambasted the state government for its economic policies, accusing it of prioritizing revenue over reverence. Under the banner of Ease of doing business, Uttar Pradesh has emerged as India's largest meat-exporting state, accounting for over 43% of the country's total meat exports.
This statistic, he argued, clearly demonstrates that the Yogi administration values financial gains from the meat trade more highly than it does respect for the mother cow. The seer's statements underscore a deepening rift between religious expectations and governmental actions in the state.
As the March 11 gathering in Lucknow approaches, the call to action signals a potential escalation in the ongoing debate over cow protection and Hindu identity in Uttar Pradesh's political landscape.
