Hindu religious leader slams ghar wapsi, religious leaders making controversial statements

Nasik: National president of Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad on Thursday slammed the controversial ‘ghar wapsi’ campaign besides hitting out at religious leaders who make derogatory comments that divert focus from the government’s development agenda.

“Those people who are making such remarks should understand that they are denting (Narendra) Modi government’s progressive image and diluting his good work,” Mahant Gyandas Ji Maharaj told PTI.

He was referring to statements made by BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj and Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti early this year asking Hindu women to have at least four children, sparking condemnation from various quarters.

Maharaj, who is in Nashik to mediate the Kumbh work between the Maharashtra government and Sadhus (seers) also criticised the proponents of the ghar wapsi’ (home-coming) programme and said, “They must understand that such retrograde statements will not have a good impact either on the society nor on our religion.”

Maharashtra government has been successfully seeking Maharaj’s cooperation to guide and settle disputes during the preparatory works at the Kumbh and he is very satisfied with the arrangements.

“I would like to say that the preparations are phenomenal and none of the governments till now have done such a commendable job,” he said.

He also termed Devendra Fadnavis as a bold chief minister who dared to bring a law banning cow slaughter in the state.

“I met the CM during flag hoisting ceremony and conveyed the blessings on behalf of all cow-lovers from the country and abroad,” he further said.

PTI