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Journalism of Courage
ALLAHABAD, JANUARY 21: The Allahabad administration has decided not to allow Congress president Sonia Gandhi to have a dip in the sangam (confluence) of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, tomorrow. However, it has reportedly withdrawn its earlier objection to her visit to the mela.
Sonia will land at Bamrauli airport at 11am, go straight to Anand Bhawanand reach the Kumbha Mela area at 12 noon. She is expected to call on theShankaracharya of Dwarka and Jyorishpeeth, Swami Swaroopanand, besidesacharyas of Tikar Mafi ashram of Amethi and Satpal Maharaj, a formerCongress MP, who too has a camp ashram here.
The mela administration is learnt to have withdrawn its objection to hervisit after a vehement protest lodged by senior Congress leaders likestate chief S.P. Jaiswal and legislature party chief Pramod Tiwari.
The mela officer Jivesh Nandan was earlier reported to have refused to allowSonia Gandhi into the mela area, on the ground that no VIP was allowed tovisit Kumbh because it might create chaos.
Congress leaders, however, cited example of the Union Human Resource Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, who came with his cavalcade to take a dip in sangam on Makar Sakranti Day (January 14). “Soniaji is coming at least two days prior to the big-day, Mauni Amawasya, when over 3 crore persons are expected to reach here,” said Tiwari.
The administration is likely to take her directly to Jhunsi — the other sideof the sangam — from where she will be taken directly to the Shankaracharya’s ashram.
However, Congress leaders are still adamant on taking Sonia directly to Triveni Sangam. “There won’t be any security problem if she takes a motorboat for sangam from either Saraswati Ghat or Kila Ghat on the Yamuna,” said Tiwari.
Incidentally, Sonia’s visit has created a sense of concern among the saffron camp as VHP-Bajrang Dal leaders reportedly discussed the fallout of Sonia’s meeting with Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand.
“She is just trying to establish that she is a Hindu and not Christian aspeople perceive her. Obviously, our announcement for temple construction hasset the cat among pigeons in the Congress,” said Prakash Mishra, a senior Bajrang Dal leader.
