Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor after making a deceitful remark about ‘Hindu Pakistan’ is in a damage control mode. Now he is endorsing a controversial statement made by an equally controversial baba. The Dwarka Shankaracharya Swaroopanada Saraswati.
The Dwarka Shankaracharya on the damage caused to Hinduism by the RSS & BJP: https://t.co/7rIcac9jEZ
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) July 13, 2018
The Congress party often accuses the BJP for providing patronage to fraud babas’ like Asaram, it is funny to see a leader of the same congress party taking asylum for his absurd statement under an absurd statement made by controversial Baba Swaroopanand. This controversial baba is well known for his misogynist remarks. According to this old India today report, Swaroopanand once told ANI that “Women cannot enter Shani temple’s inner sanctum. Women should not be worshipping Shani in the temple. If they do so, Shani’s eyes would fall on women and this would result in increase of rape incidents”.
In another bizarre statement, he claimed that honeymooners are responsible for the Kedarnath flash flood. He said, “People coming from different parts of the country to holy places of Devbhoomi (Uttarakhand) for enjoyment, picnic and honeymoon led to the Kedarnath disaster. Similar incidents will happen if such unholy activities are not stopped”.
Being a Hindu spiritual leader he has the supreme duty of uniting the Hindus, but instead of uniting them he is working towards dividing the Hindus through his absurd rants. Once he said that Sai baba cannot be worshiped as he is just a Muslim fakir.
He even blamed the worshiping of Sai Baba as the cause for drought in Maharashtra.
Shankaracharya Swaroopanand blamed the worship of Sai Baba as the cause for drought in parts of Maharashtra. #ITCard pic.twitter.com/rfdjv7w2do
— India Today (@IndiaToday) April 11, 2016
According to another India Today report, Swaroopanand is a supporter of of the caste system, he believes in untouchability, and is against widow-remarriage. Does Shashi Tharoor endorse his stand in these matters too? Probably yes, because Swaroopanand is a well known Congress sympathizer and has on various occasion displayed staunch pro congress support.
@svaradarajan Which "Hindutva types" are saying this? Swaroopanand is a long-standing Congress and Gandhi family ally. Surely you know that
— Ashok Malik (@MalikAshok) August 27, 2014
He is well-known for his close links with the Gandhis. According to a third India Today report, “Mrs Gandhi inaugurated the Shiva Temple built by him in his village, Jhoteshwar, in the early ’80s.” Rajiv Gandhi also used to take advice from him. He is also the guru of Congress leader Digvijay Singh.
Why is this Congress stooge Swaroopanand given so much importance by Media? @IndiaToday pic.twitter.com/ojmOuPXkvM
— हम भारत के लोग (@India_Policy) April 11, 2016
He is also very close to Sonia Gandhi. According to The Telegraph report, in 2004, Swaroopananda defended Sonia Gandhi’s likely candidature for Prime Ministership. He also mocked BJP’s campaign against Sonia Gandhi whom he had famously blessed during the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad in 2001.
Shankaracharya Swaroopanand is always presented by Media as the Hindu RW. No, he is not. pic.twitter.com/ZyJWIhpvTE
— हम भारत के लोग (@India_Policy) April 11, 2016
Sonia Gandhi also attended his program.
Sonia landed at Varanasi airport and now flying for Ghazipur to attend programme at Shankaracharya swaroopanand ji mahraj at his ashram
— News18 Uttar Pradesh (@News18UP) May 19, 2011
Swaroopananda is a known BJP/RSS hater. He called Mohan Bhagwat and objected on Har Har Modi Slogan used in Varanasi.
Shankaracharya Swaroopanand called RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and objected on Har Har Modi slogan used in Varanasi @abpnewstv
— Milind Khandekar (@milindkhandekar) March 23, 2014
On 21/01/2014: Swaroopanand Saraswati slapped a reporter after being asked a question on Narendra Modi.
21/01/2014: Swaroopanand Saraswati slaps reporter after being asked a question on Narendra Modi (pic courtesy IBC 24) pic.twitter.com/DrPwfW1RN5
— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2014
Later on Congress spokesperson of Madhya Pradesh, Manak Agarwal jumped in for defence of Swaroopanand and offered a very lame reason behind Baba’s unacceptable act. He said, “The shankaracharya never talks politics. He must have lost his cool as he was asked questions about politics.”
Ever since, the BJP government came to power Swaroopanand has made several baseless statements against the BJP and the RSS including the recent one which Shashi Tharoor is quoting in his defence. Swaroopanand claimed that the RSS and the BJP caused biggest damage to the BJP in the recent times. But it is clearly evident that people like him and their narrow-mindedness has caused more damage to the Hindu religion. It must be noted that he has also stood against the efforts of the VHP and the RSS to build the Ram Temple.
All this goes on to show that the Congress party can embrace anyone, as long as they are RSS/BJP haters.
