PRAYAGRAJ: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee came under fire from the seers' fraternity for calling the Maha Kumbh, a ‘Mrityu Kumbh'. Mamata's statement was condemned by all the prominent seers, including the largest organisation of seers, the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP). Expressing their outrage, the seers unanimously demanded that Mamata retract her words and issue a public apology.
The president of ABAP and Maa Mansa Devi Trust Haridwar's Srimahant Ravindra Puri described Mamata's statement as mocking the devotees who died in the accident.
He said, "While criticising the govt, she criticised the biggest and holiest event of Sanatan Dharma. From her statement, it seems as if every person coming to Maha Kumbh is dying. She would never have made such a statement on the deaths that occurred after the stampede in Mecca."
Likewise, Juna Akhara's chief patron Mahant Hari Giri said, "Mamata hurt our symbol of faith and belief by linking Maha Kumbh with death, which is reprehensible." "Mamata Banerjee, being a Brahmin, has given baseless advice to appease and to get the attention of the people," he said.
President of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Swami Chiddanand Saraswati said that it is not Maha Kumbh but ‘Mahan Kumbh'. This has become Amar Kumbh. National secretary of Shri Panchayati Akhara Mahanirvani, Shri Mahant Jamuna Puri strongly criticised Banerjee's remarks and said, "Prayagraj Maha Kumbh is an ‘Amrit Parva' and its grandeur has been witnessed by the world."
Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Swami Arun Giri of Panch Dashnam Aavahan Akhara said, "West Bengal is turning into a death zone for Sanatanis. Thousands of Hindus have been killed, and during elections, lakhs are forced to flee. Instead of worrying about Uttar Pradesh, Mamata Banerjee should focus on the situation in her own state."
President of Nirmohi Ani Akhara, Mahant Rajendra Das said, "She has always disrespected Sanatan values and traditions. By making such statements, she is following the path of Arvind Kejriwal, and her fate will be no different."
Ayodhya's Hanuman Garhi temple's Mahant Raju Das called Mamata Banerjee's statement ‘unfortunate' and urged her to apologise for her words.
Similarly, national general secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti, Swami Jitendranand Saraswati condemned the remark, asserting that "Maha Kumbh is a symbol of Sanatan culture and faith, and the seer community strongly denounces Mamata Banerjee's words."
Swami Adhokshjanand Dev Tirth of Govardhan Math Puri suggested that Mamata Banerjee visit Prayagraj Maha Kumbh to witness its spiritual grandeur. "Calling it a ‘Kumbh of death' is highly condemnable. Politicians should refrain from commenting on religious matters," he said.
Earlier, Mamata made a controversial remark in the state assembly on Tuesday, referring to the recent stampede incident at New Delhi railway station. She said that Maha Kumbh turned into ‘Mrityukumbh'.
She claimed that not 30 but thousands of people died in the stampede there (in Prayagraj). Before Mamata, former Bihar CM and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav said that Kumbh is useless.
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