Gets 10 akharas in favour
Ujjain : Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP), president Mahant Narendra Giri has succeeded in strengthening his support for complete rule over the ABAP, by getting support of Digambar Vaishnav akhara. Now with support of the Digambar akhara Mahant Giri has got support of 10 out of 13 akharas.
Giri had reached the akhara in disguise to meet an ailing saint of the akhara, but obviously the reasons were different. On Thursday, Giri had indirectly helped the Simhastha Mela Authorities (SFA), over the agitation of Digambar akhara. It was after his intervention combined with efforts of SFA the saints ended their hunger strike and sit in. Shri Mahant Krishna Das of the Digambar akhara was paid visit by Giri, where he took stock of the situations. The Friday manoeuvre was to seal the deal of support for his claim of ABAP president. Mahant Ramkishore Das of the akhara said, “They will gladly participate in the meeting of 13 akharas, if the invitation letters are issued in name of our functionaries.” Mahant Ramkishore Das supported Mahant Narendra Giri for his presidency of ABAP, saying the akhara will go with the person having majority.
Presently, Narendra Giri is the majority president and now with Digambar akhara and half of the Nirmohi akhara standing with him, the government will take no time is issuing invitation letter for the meeting of 13 akharas scheduled on March 13, as president of ABAP. With support of the 10 akharas excluding Mahanirvani, Atal and Nirwani akhara, the throne of Giri is almost final, with official recognition from the SFA. The reason behind the support of Giri by the akhara is the never before construction works made in the akharas by the government. And Mahant Giri takes all the credit (somewhat goes to him), for initiating talks with the government for such works in the akharas, so that they could get permanent face. It Giri who forced the State government to increase the initial sanction of Rs 50 lakh for each akhara, to Rs 2 crore and now the government in increased the amount to Rs 13 crore, and more is to come, upon demand. Second it was his leadership which has forced the government to reach in the akharas and listen to the requirements, which has incremented the cadre of akharas. These scenarios have not gone unnoticed leading to confirmation of his chair.
Mela land reservation in agenda
Mahant Narendra Giri while talking to Free Press said, “Steps will be taken to insure that the Simhastha Kumbh mela remains on Kshipra banks”. He said the issue will be raised in the meeting of 13 akharas and has been written in his agenda to the government. With increasing encroachment and population the settlements of sadhu-sanyasis are getting far away from the core mela area near Kshipra banks. He said Neelganga is prime example of encroachment. Giri said we will request the government to develop a system to reserve the land of Simhastha mela for further events. Chairman Simhastha Fair Authority Divakar Natu who had reached the seer was also put with similar demands.
