Amid the controversy surrounding the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony scheduled for January 22 at the Ayodhya Ram Temple, Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math in Uttarakhand, declared on Sunday that he is among the admirers of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, who was one of the four Shankaracharyas expressing concerns about the Ram Temple ceremony, emphasized that Hindus have experienced an awakening of self-respect since PM Modi assumed office in 2014, deeming it a significant development.
In a video shared by news agency ANI, Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati praised PM Modi and his government for various initiatives, including the construction of the Ram Temple. The pontiff acknowledged PM Modi's courage and unwavering support for Hindu sentiments, highlighting him as the first Prime Minister in independent India to exhibit such qualities.
He clarified that their admiration for PM Modi does not imply criticism of others, and he commended the Prime Minister for significant decisions such as the abrogation of Article 370, the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act, and the Swachchta Abhiyaan. Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati underscored that when Hindu sentiments are strengthened, it brings happiness, and he credited PM Modi for contributing to this cause.
Addressing the media, the pontiff emphasized their positive stance toward the central government, particularly during the aftermath of the Supreme Court's landmark verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case in 2019. Despite the political controversy, the Shankaracharya asserted that their decision to refrain from participating in the consecration ceremony was not a rejection of reverence for Lord Ram and did not indicate an "anti-Modi" stance.
