Acharya Satyendra Das, the Head Priest, says that his “Yatra” would be able to “unite” the nation.
Ram Mandir’s priest: Days after Acharya Satyendra Das, the head priest of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, sent good wishes for Mr. Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, Champat Rai, the general secretary of the Ram Mandir trust and a leading member of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), also praised Mr. Gandhi for his efforts.
Some Congress leaders asked me to join Bharat Jodo Yatra but due to health issues, I couldn't join. After which they asked me to extend wishes for Bharat Jodo Yatra so I wrote a letter to Rahul Gandhi and wished him success: Acharya Satyendra Das, chief priest of Ram Janmabhoomi pic.twitter.com/uOdDd4fRh8
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) January 3, 2023
In a letter to Rahul, Acharya Satyendra Das, the head priest of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, expressed the hope that his “Yatra” would be able to “unite” the nation. The objectives of the Yatra will be fulfilled with the blessing of Lord Rama, “May you (Rahul Gandhi) be healthy and have a long life. The work you are doing for the betterment of the country is in the direction of sarvajan hitaya, sarvajan sukhaya (betterment and happiness of all), Prabhu Ram Lalla ki kripa aapke upar bani rahe (May the blessings of Lord Ram Lalla always be with you),” the priest said.
Chief Priest of Shri Ram Janm Bhoomi Shri Ayodhya Ji, Acharya Satyendra Das Ji have sent best wishes to Shri Rahul Gandhi for Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Jai Siyaram. pic.twitter.com/PUkx7GstTS
— Anshuman Sail Nehru (@AnshumanSail) January 3, 2023
Champat Rai, when asked about Das’ statement, said on Tuesday, “Who has criticized the Yatra… I am a worker of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Has anyone from Sangh criticized the Yatra? Has the Prime Minister criticized the Yatra? A young man is walking on foot and is trying to understand the country. This is worth appreciating. A 50-year-old is traveling 3,000km on foot in this weather. In fact, everyone should go on a foot march across the country to explore it.”
‘I think you all (journalists) should also do the same (undertake padyatra to study the country),” he added. ”I am an RSS worker, and RSS never criticized the Yatra,” Rai said. Another member of the Trust, Mahant Govind Dev Giri, also praised Rahul and wished his Yatra a success.
While the opposition leaders shunned the Yatra in the state, the seers offered their support.
Surprisingly, RSS support for Bharat Jodo Yatra may have some repercussions in Uttar Pradesh Politics.
Akhilesh Yadav, the president of the SP, and Mayawati, the leader of the BSP, expressed their good wishes for the Yatra but decided not to participate in it or send any of their senior leaders.
Congress had invited Akhilesh, RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary, BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra, CPI leader Atul Anjan, former minister Shivpal Singh Yadav and Suheldev Bharat Samaj Party leader Om Prakash Rajbhar to join the Yatra in the state. The Yatra entered UP’s Ghaziabad district from Delhi on Tuesday.
