Jagadguru Swami Sri Nischalananda Saraswati, the 145 Shankaracharya of the Govardhan Peeth in Puri, on Tuesday expressed concern over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, urging that not a single eligible voter’s name be deleted in the process.
Speaking at a Press conference at Gangasagar, he said he had heard reports of people allegedly dying by suicide or succumbing to stress linked to the SIR process, describing such incidents as “unfortunate and deeply distressing”. He maintained that the Election Commission of India (ECI) should have undertaken the SIR exercise over a longer period to avoid anxiety among voters.
Stressing the sanctity of the democratic process, the Shankaracharya said that any revision must ensure that genuine voters are protected and not subjected to undue hardship. The Shankaracharya also strongly condemned incidents of Bengalis being allegedly assaulted and killed outside the state, asserting that every language deserves respect and dignity. Referring to the Mahabharata, he cited the example of Vidura, who was said to speak a “mlechha” tongue, yet was accorded the highest respect by Lord Krishna.
“Language can never be a ground for hatred or violence,” he said. Turning to developments beyond India’s borders, the Shankaracharya voiced grave concern over reports of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, warning that such incidents could have “serious and harmful repercussions” for India. He called for an immediate end to the violence, cautioning that continued unrest could ignite instability and cause widespread damage.
Emphasising India’s civilisational ethos, he said that the presence of Hindutva had spread a message of peace across the world, and that all religions must be respected. Killing people of other faiths, he added, was a “grave anti-religious act” and those involved should face the strictest punishment.
Meanwhile, Union minister and BJP’s former West Bengal president Sukanta Majumdar arrived at Gangasagar on Tuesday morning to take a holy dip and inaugurate the BJP’s seva activities for pilgrims. Majumdar reached Kachuberia ferry ghat around 10 a.m. and later bathed at Sagar Mela’s No. 1 ghat along with party workers and supporters. Majumdar criticised the alleged dominance of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s posters along the mela routes, claiming that repeated requests by the BJP to instal arches featuring the Prime Minister’s photograph were denied by the local block administration. “Even if 40 crore people visit, this mela will not be accorded national status because the Prime Minister’s image is not allowed here,” he alleged.
Questioning the state government’s claim that 45 lakh pilgrims had visited Gangasagar, Majumdar said data available to his party suggested that tickets for only around 30,000 ferry vessels had been sold. “How then did 44.7 lakh people cross the river?” he asked, casting doubt on the figures. He also referred to repeated promises of infrastructure projects, including a bridge, and questioned their implementation.
Reiterating the cultural and religious significance of Gangasagar for Bengalis and Hindus, Majumdar renewed his demand for the construction of a dedicated ‘Gangasagar House’ to provide better facilities for pilgrims.