AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh intensified his criticism of Dhirendra Krishna Shastri — popularly known as Bageshwar Baba — stating that Shastri’s recently concluded ‘Sanatan Hindu Ekta Yatra’ was fundamentally unconstitutional. Shastri had embarked on a 10-day march from Delhi to Vrindavan to campaign for what he described as Hindu unity, an event that sparked widespread political debate before ending on November 16.
Singh, who is himself leading a ‘Saryu to Sangam’ padyatra in Uttar Pradesh, was questioned about how his march differed from Shastri’s. In response, he asserted that Shastri’s public advocacy for a “Hindu Rashtra” directly violates the spirit of the Indian Constitution. According to Singh, the Constitution unequivocally establishes India as a secular nation from “Kashmir to Kanyakumari,” and no individual — regardless of their political or religious stature — has the authority to speak against that foundational principle.
He emphasised that elected representatives, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and even opposition leaders like himself, have all taken an oath to uphold the Constitution. Therefore, Singh argued, Shastri’s open call for a Hindu Rashtra is not only unlawful but also a direct assault on constitutional values.
Singh warned that any attempt to undermine secularism endangers the unity of the nation. If the idea of a Hindu Rashtra is normalised, he said, similar demands for a Tamil nation, a Telugu nation, a Sikh nation, or even a Dalit or Backwards-class nation could emerge, creating a domino effect of fragmentation. A country of 1.44 billion people, he argued, “cannot run on such divisive ideas.”
Countering Shastri’s narrative, Singh said his own march focuses on social justice, equality and communal harmony. “We are speaking about an India that includes Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians. Our journey is rooted in an inclusive vision,” he said.
Singh also levelled a pointed allegation at the BJP, insisting that the ruling party is covertly supporting Shastri’s march. According to him, the BJP cannot publicly champion the idea of a Hindu Rashtra due to constitutional constraints and international scrutiny. Hence, Singh claimed, they are “pushing figures like Shastri forward” to make such statements indirectly and test the political waters without taking official responsibility.
