HARIDWAR: A faction of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP) -- the apex body of seers -- has declared that "non-Hindus will not be allowed to set up eateries at the Mahakumbh", due to be held in Prayagraj, UP, next year.
Swami Ravindra Puri of the Niranjani Akhara faction said on Monday that a decision to this effect was recently taken by the ABAP in Prayagraj. "Govt now has to decide who will be allowed to sell these items or who will serve food at the Kumbh fair... If (unauthorised) people are found indulging in it, Sanatan Dharma followers will not be silent spectators, and Naga Sanyasis will punish them," Puri claimed.
Puri added: "From the security point of view, we'll demand that visitors to the Mahakumbh must be identified before being allowed to enter the place. We'll also insist that no shop, stall, or business space be allotted to Muslims. A final decision on this matter may be taken around Diwali time following interaction with CM Yogi Adityanath."
The stringent measure was necessitated by the fact that "certain people selling juice, fruits and other eatables deliberately defile these," he pointed out.
Another faction of ABAP, led by Ravindra Puri of Mahanirvani Akhara, who is at loggerheads with the Niranjani faction, concurred. "People from the minority community should not be permitted to open eateries on the premises of Mahakumbh," said Ravindra Puri of Mahanirvani Akhara.
Similar views were echoed by Mahant Rajendra Das of Nirmohi Akhara. "Do Hindus go to their holy places? If not, why should they come to our Mahakumbh? But nobody will object if they have faith in the Sanatan Dharma and come there for a dip in the Ganga," Das said.
Mahamandaleshwar Swami Harichetananand, when asked if he endorsed the ABAP's "decision", said he wasn't aware of any such move.
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