Kumbh Mela: Seer threatens sadhus boycotting 2nd 'shahi-snan'

Ujjain (MP), Apr 25: Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP) chief Narendra Giri today threatened the Madhya Pradesh BJP government that the sadhus will boycott the second 'shahi- shan'(royal bath) on May 9 and return home from the ongoing month-long Simhastha-Kumbh, if the things were not set right.

"If the state government doesn't set things right by May 5, Sandhus won't take part at the 'shahi-snan' on May 9 and return home," Giri told reporters here.

Giri is the head of ABAP - the governing body of 13 'akharas' of sadhus who are camping here for the Kumbh Mela.

He said during the first 'shahi-snan' on April 22, which marked the opening of the Kumbh Mela, the sadhus "were not provided facilities" and "given their respect" at Ramghat (on the river Kshipra) to take the holy dip.

Giri said Ramghat was reserved for sadhus to take holy dip between 5 AM to 12 noon. But, he alleged during that period the bureaucrats, including Ujjain Collector Kavindra Kiyawat along with their families were seen taking the holy dip and taking selfies.

Giri claimed that the collector has apologised for the act saying that he wasn't aware of the said timings. He further said the state government had said 50 lakh to one crore people will take part in the 'shahi-snan' on April 22 but a mere 8 to 10 lakh could take the royal bath, due to "the mismanagement and disarray arrangements" on that day.

The faithful are being made to walk 9 km for taking dip in (river) Kshipra as there was no transport facility for them, despite the tall claims of the government that it will run e-rickshaws for the devotees, he claimed.

Giri also said inexperienced officers have been put on duty to run the show and demanded deputation of experienced officers.

PTI