Ardh Kumbh returnee saints threaten protest

Varanasi, Feb 3 (UNI) The Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP) -- an apex body of 13 'akharas' -- today threatened to hold demonstrations in Varanasi and Lucknow over the absence of 'basic amenities' for the Ardh Kumbh returnee 'sadhus' in this holy city.

Despite repeated requests, the district magistrate Rajiv Agrawal has failed to address demands and continues to overlook the reality that no 'basic facilities' exist in this holy city for the 'sadhus' returning from the Ardh Kumbh Mela at Allahabad, they said.

''All we need is tents, electricity and sanitary arrangements on the sandy bank of the Ganga river here, besides a temporary pontoon bridge as promised by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav connecting the city side with the opposite riverbank,'' ABAP general secretary Mahant Hari Giri told newspersons here.

''We have set a deadline of February 8 by which the district administration should put the basic infrastructure in place, failing which we will be forced to hold demonstrations at the Varanasi district headquarters as well as in the state capital,'' the ABAP office-bearer added.

An estimated 10,000 'sadhus' and 'sanyasis' representing the 13 'akharas', among them 'mahamandaleshwars of akharas', will arrive in the city on February 8 for 'Peshwai' -- the traditional worship at the world famous Kashi Vishwanath temple here -- by the Ardh Kumbh returnee 'akharas'.

The sea of saffron sadhus will stay in Varanasi till Holi -- the festival of colours -- and prior to that, they will perform the 'shahi snan' in the Ganga river at 'Mahashivratri' on February 16.

Later, the 'akharas' will offer prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath temple, which houses one of the 12 'jyotirlingas.' Incidentally, Mr Yadav, taking note of the demands of the 'akhras', had during the Ardh Kumbh on January 20 last, personally assured the 'sadhus' that a makeshift pontoon bridge will be laid on the Ganga river in Varanasi connecting the sandy banks of the sacred river with the Prachin Hanuman Ghat for the one month period of stay of the saints in Varanasi.

The bridge, however, is still to be put into place by the concerned authorities.

''If the necessary facilities are not provided to us in time, we will be forced to believe that the UP CM has only paid lip service to our genuine concerns like other politicians,'' Mahant Hari Giri maintained.

UNI