Shankaracharya row: DyCM hosts 101 Batuk Brahmins

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh deputy CM Brajesh Pathak hosted 101 Batuk Brahmins (budding Vedic scholars) at his Lucknow residence on Thursday and welcomed them with garlands and petals shower along with his wife Namrata. He gifted them clothes and even shared a meal.Pathak's gesture was seen as an act of atonement since the Brahmin disciples of Swami Avimukteshwaranand, the Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth, were allegedly heckled and dragged by their ‘shikha' (choti) by police at the Magh Mela in Prayagraj on Jan 18 this year when they were protesting against the denial of entry to the Hindu pontiff's convoy to the Mela area. Pathak had publicly criticised the police action saying that law enforcement should exercise sensitivity while maintaining order. He even demanded action against officials responsible for the misbehaviour. "Many Brahmin students met me over the past few days and I just did my duty by showing them respect today," Pathak told TOI.
In political circles, deputy CM's interaction with Batuks was seen as an effort to reinforce his image as a prominent Brahmin face of the BJP. The outreach also assumes significance since the party is trying to consolidate its upper caste voters for UP elections. While refraining from commenting on the role of Swami Avimukteshwaranand or the controversy surrounding him, Pathak said police have multiple options when dealing with law and order situations and should exercise restraint."It's a sin to touch the pagdi of a Sikh or the beard of a Muslim. The same applies to a Brahmin's shikha. Police should exercise restraint and should not misbehave with the young disciples," Pathak said, underlining the need for cultural and religious sensitivity. He pointed out that the BJP respects all castes and communities while pursuing the ideology of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas'. Pathak's remarks give a political dimension to the episode since caste equations and social coalitions will come into play ahead of the next year's assembly elections. Pathak has also slammed a recently released movie with a controversial title vis-a-vis Brahmins, saying the film industry was ‘targeting Indian culture' and specially the Brahmin community. He said such films should not be shown to public as they use derogatory terms for a community that has contributed significantly to the nation.Political observers said the deputy CM's calculated messaging — defending religious sensitivities while avoiding direct confrontation with the administration — indicates a delicate balancing act within govt.Pathak, sources said, is actively engaging with groups like the Parshuram Sena and the women's wing of the Brahmin Sabha to strengthen ties. He also attended events organised by outfits such as the Akhil Bharatiya Brahmin Mahasabha. In fact, after 2024 LS results, Pathak was tasked with conducting a confidence-building exercise among Brahmins, sources said, adding he was assigned to speak directly with Brahmin MLAs to address their concerns.