On Sunday, the opposition in Maharashtra launched a scathing attack on Union Minister Narayan Rane over his comments regarding the Shankaracharyas, calling for his immediate dismissal from the Narendra Modi government and a formal apology from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Rane's remarks, made during a press interaction in Palghar on Saturday, suggested that the Shankaracharyas should bless the Ram Temple rather than criticize certain aspects of it. He accused them of viewing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP through a "political prism."
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, addressing reporters on Sunday, condemned Rane for allegedly insulting Hinduism by questioning the Shankaracharyas' contribution. Raut demanded an apology from the BJP before January 22, the scheduled date for the idol consecration ceremony at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. He further urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to remove Rane from the Union cabinet.
Supriya Sule, the working president of the Nationalist Congress Party led by Sharad Pawar, stated that it was the BJP's responsibility to respond to Rane's comments. Meanwhile, Congress workers staged protests at the party office in Mumbai against Rane.
In response to the controversy, VHP working president Alok Kumar clarified that two out of the four Shankaracharyas had expressed support for the upcoming consecration ceremony. However, reports indicated that none of them would attend the event on January 22, with plans to visit the Ram Temple later at their convenience.
The opposition has seized on reports that the Shankaracharyas of Shri Shringeri Sharda Peeth in Karnataka, Dwarka Sharda Peeth in Gujarat, Jyotir Peeth in Uttarakhand, and Govardhan Peeth in Odisha have decided not to attend the consecration ceremony. Jyotirpeeth Sankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati was reported as saying that performing the consecration ceremony at this stage, before the construction is completed, would not be appropriate.
(With Agency Inputs)
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