Jaipur, January 24, 2026:
The incident of Jyotish Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati being allegedly stopped from taking a holy dip at the Sangam in Prayagraj on the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasya has triggered widespread outrage across the country. Terming the incident as an insult to Sanatan traditions and a violation of constitutional rights, representatives of Gau Mata Rashtramata Abhiyan and Go-Sansad raised strong objections during a press conference held at Jawahar Kala Kendra in Jaipur on Saturday.
Addressing the media, Babulal Jangid, In-charge of Gau Mata Rashtramata Abhiyan and Gau Sevadish (West India), said that Shankaracharya ji is not a political figure but the Peethadheeshwar of an ancient Sanatan Math. “Stopping him from taking a holy dip without any written order, prohibitory instructions or valid legal reason is arbitrary and unconstitutional. This issue concerns not just one individual but the dignity of the entire Sanatan tradition,” he said.
Tarachand Kothari, State Co-Incharge of Go-Sansad (Rajasthan), alleged that the administration cited ‘protocol’ and ‘crowd management’ as reasons to deny entry to Shankaracharya ji, despite the absence of any abnormal crowd at the site, as seen in available video footage and eyewitness accounts. He further alleged that other religious groups were allowed to take the holy dip at the same time, exposing discriminatory conduct by the authorities.
Go-Sansad State Co-Secretary Devkinandan Purohit alleged that Shankaracharya ji was left alone and later surrounded by unidentified individuals in plain clothes and taken to an undisclosed location. He said the incident amounted to a serious violation of Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees personal liberty and dignity. He also alleged that Shankaracharya ji’s disciples, including women, elderly persons and minors, were subjected to misbehaviour and use of force.
During the press conference, Go-Sansad representatives cited video evidence showing a uniformed police personnel allegedly dragging a monk by holding his hair tuft and assaulting him. The speakers said that grabbing a monk’s hair tuft is not merely physical violence but a deliberate insult to Sanatan traditions, deeply hurting the sentiments of devotees across the country.
The representatives questioned why no written order or legal basis for stopping the holy dip has been made public so far. They termed the incident a direct violation of Articles 14, 21 and 25 of the Constitution and demanded accountability from the authorities.
Key Demands:
• Public explanation and unconditional apology for the action against Shankaracharya ji, saints and devotees
• All written orders related to stopping the holy dip should be made public
• Suspension of police personnel seen in the video till completion of the inquiry
• Independent, impartial and time-bound investigation into the incident
• Preservation of CCTV footage, drone recordings and wireless logs
• Criminal action against those found guilty of cognisable offences
• Issuance of clear guidelines to prevent such incidents in future
At the end of the press conference, representatives of Gau Mata Rashtramata Abhiyan and Go-Sansad warned that if a public apology is not issued at the earliest, a protest march (Pratikar Yatra) will be organised on January 27, 2026, with participation of saints and citizens. A memorandum addressed to the President will be submitted through the District Collector, seeking intervention in the matter.
Several office-bearers, including Surendra Singh Achalpuria, Yogendra Singh, Santlal Saini, Pandit Gajanand Sharma, Vinod Yadav, along with members of Bharatiya Gau Kranti Manch and other organisations, were present during the press conference.