Shankaracharya is Cong’s weapon for BJP’s Hindutva war

During his well-attended discourses, which will continue for two months, the Swami also espouses the need to ‘‘establish peace and restore a sense of brotherhood and mutual trust among Hindus and Muslims, which has been lost during the post-Godhra disturbances.’’

He also says that since the rulers violated ‘‘rajdharma’’ during the Gujarat riots, it is the duty of religious leaders like him to correct the wrongdoing and maitain social order.

However, trying to dissociate the Swami from the Congress campaign, Vaghela said: ‘‘The Shankaracharya has nothing to do with politics. His visit should not be construed as political just because he has been camping in my native village. The Puri seer is pained to learn about the post-Godhra holocaust. Hence, he decided to visit Gujarat to propagate the message of communal harmony and peace.’’

Claiming that the ‘‘Congress wants to nail the lies being spread by the Modi government post-Godhra and counter effectively the BJP’s communal propaganda,’’ Vaghela is not confining the Swami to Gandhinagar, Mehsana and other districts in north Gujarat. After the chaturmas ends on September 21, the Swami is scheduled to tour the rest of the state to ‘‘spread the message of peace and harmony’’.

Also in the pipeline is a national convention of Hindu religious leaders in Vasan on September 10. Again, the theme is ‘‘to propagate the message of peace and brotherhood across the country’’.

The Swami’s programme, which is being organised by the Jagadguru Swagat Samiti, includes a week-long visit to the Saurashtra region, considered the bastion of former chief minister Keshubhai Patel. There, the Swami is expected to address dharma sabhas in Rajkot, Jamnagar, Dwarka, Porbandar, Junagadh and Somnath.

The Samiti is also planning a religious discourse by the Swami in Ahmedabad on September 29, probably at the Sardar Patel Stadium. The Congress-held AMC also plans to accord a civic reception to the Swami.

Reacting to the Congress campaign, Gujarat BJP chief Rajendrasinh Rana said: ‘‘Yes, they may have invited the Swami to counter the BJP’s Hindutva card. In our Indian society, religion is being used like opium. It’s a very effective tool. And, Shankersinh at the helm of affairs of a political party has also every right to use this tool. The ruling party should not have any objection to that.’’

The BJP has already come in for criticism from some sants. Earlier, at a meeting of sants and mahants at the pilgrim town of Mahudi, also in Gandhinagar district, many speakers accused the Sangh Parivar of taking Hindus for a ride by whipping up passions with the promise of building a temple at Ayodhya but doing nothing.

And if the Congress plans work, the saffron party may be in for more flak. According to former GPCC president Amarsinh Chaudhary, a Gujarat Sant Mahasabha, under Chhote Morari Bapu, a discourser, has been formed. This organisation will hold conventions like the one at Mahudi in all talukas of the state.