<p>India's Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi has got backing from an unusual quarter for his controversial speech referring to some Hindus as 'violent': The Shankaracharya of Uttarakhand, a revered Hindu pontiff.</p>

<h2><strong>What did Rahul say?</strong></h2>

<p>On July 1, in his first speech as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, Gandhi said “those who call themselves Hindus indulge in hate and violence round the clock”.</p>

<p>He made the point while displaying photos of religious figures and deities including Lord Shiva and Sikhism's Guru Nanak.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">नेता विपक्ष राहुल गांधी के संसद में हिंदू वाले बयान पर ज्योतिष पीठ के शंकराचार्य अविमुक्तेश्वरानंद सरस्वती को सुनिए <a href="https://t.co/0p35TOivHT">pic.twitter.com/0p35TOivHT</a></p>
— Lutyens Media (@LutyensMediaIN) <a href="https://twitter.com/LutyensMediaIN/status/1809980215508312387?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>The remarks prompted an immediate interjection from Narendra Modi, a rare such move by the Indian prime minister.</p>

<p>Modi said: “The issue is a serious one, to call the entire Hindu community violent is serious.”</p>

<p>To this Gandhi retorted: “Narendra Modi ji is not the entire Hindu community, the BJP [the ruling party] is not the entire Hindu community, the RSS [the ideological font of BJP] is not the entire Hindu community”.</p>

<h2><strong>What did Shankaracharya say?</strong></h2>

<p>On Sunday (July 7), Swami Avimukteshwaranand, the 46th Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math in the northern state of Uttarakhand, appeared to back Gandhi.</p>

<p>"We listened attentively to Rahul Gandhi's entire speech. He unequivocally emphasises that Hinduism rejects violence," the Shankaracharya said.</p>

<p>He said those who are sharing parts of Gandhi's speech in a selective manner and distorting facts should be made accountable.</p>

<p>"Presenting only fragments of Gandhi's statement is misleading and unethical," he said in a video that has since gone viral.</p>

<h2>How the government is acting against Rahul Gandhi</h2>

<p>After a ruckus created by his remarks in parliament, the speaker&nbsp;Om Birla asked for expunging the relevant remarks from parliament records.</p>

<p>The government is also reportedly considering options to take action against Gandhi for his remarks.</p>

<p>Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju claimed Gandhi violated House rules and insulted the speaker.</p>

<p>"Action will follow as per the rule under which the notice or appeal has been made," he said last week.</p>

<h2><strong>Not the first time Shankaracharya didn't&nbsp;toe govt line</strong></h2>

<p>This is not the first time that Shankaracharyas, the four main clerics seen as custodians and guides of Hindu religion and its traditions, &nbsp;made their opinions heard.</p>

<p>The most recent one was during the Ayodhya Ram mandir inauguration earlier this year.</p>

<p>Swami Avimukteshwaranand had said at the time that the 'pran pratishtha' of the Ram Temple is being conducted even as the temple's construction was not complete.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He described the event, which was overseen by PM Modi this January, as a violation of religious scriptures.</p>

<h2><strong>Who is a Shankaracharya?</strong></h2>

<p>Shankaracharyas were religious leaders established by Adi Shankara, the 8th century saint from the southern state of Kerala, to spread Hindusim and the philosophy of Advaita (non-duality).</p>

<p>To spread the Hindu teachings, he set up four 'peethams' or religious monasteries in different regions of India.</p>

<p>Jyotir Math in Uttarakhand is one of them.</p>

<p>Shankaracharyas are the spiritual heads of these monasteries.</p>

<p>The other three peeths are located in Odisha, Karnataka and Gujarat. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Besides Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand, the other leaders of these monasteries are: Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati (Odisha), Shankaracharya Swami Sadanand Saraswati (Gujarat), and Shankaracharya Bharati Teerth (Karnataka).</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


India's Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi has got backing from an unusual quarter for his controversial speech referring to some Hindus as 'violent': The Shankaracharya of Uttarakhand, a revered Hindu pontiff.

India's Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi has got backing from an unusual quarter for his controversial speech referring to some Hindus as 'violent': The Shankaracharya of Uttarakhand, a revered Hindu pontiff. What did Rahul say? On July 1, in his first speech as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, Gandhi said “those who call themselves Hindus indulge in hate and violence round the clock”. He made the point while displaying photos of religious figures and deities including Lord Shiva and Sikhism's Guru Nanak. नेता विपक्ष राहुल गांधी के संसद में हिंदू वाले बयान पर ज्योतिष पीठ के शंकराचार्य अविमुक्तेश्वरानंद सरस्वती को सुनिए pic.twitter.com/0p35TOivHT — Lutyens Media (@LutyensMediaIN) July 7, 2024 × The remarks prompted an immediate interjection from Narendra Modi, a rare such move by the Indian prime minister. Modi said: “The issue is a serious one, to call the entire Hindu community violent is serious.” To this Gandhi retorted: “Narendra Modi ji is not the entire Hindu community, the BJP [the ruling party] is not the entire Hindu community, the RSS [the ideological font of BJP] is not the entire Hindu community”. What did Shankaracharya say? On Sunday (July 7), Swami Avimukteshwaranand, the 46th Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math in the northern state of Uttarakhand, appeared to back Gandhi. "We listened attentively to Rahul Gandhi's entire speech. He unequivocally emphasises that Hinduism rejects violence," the Shankaracharya said. He said those who are sharing parts of Gandhi's speech in a selective manner and distorting facts should be made accountable. "Presenting only fragments of Gandhi's statement is misleading and unethical," he said in a video that has since gone viral. How the government is acting against Rahul Gandhi After a ruckus created by his remarks in parliament, the speaker Om Birla asked for expunging the relevant remarks from parliament records. The government is also reportedly considering options to take action against Gandhi for his remarks. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju claimed Gandhi violated House rules and insulted the speaker. "Action will follow as per the rule under which the notice or appeal has been made," he said last week. Not the first time Shankaracharya didn't toe govt line This is not the first time that Shankaracharyas, the four main clerics seen as custodians and guides of Hindu religion and its traditions, made their opinions heard. The most recent one was during the Ayodhya Ram mandir inauguration earlier this year. Swami Avimukteshwaranand had said at the time that the 'pran pratishtha' of the Ram Temple is being conducted even as the temple's construction was not complete. He described the event, which was overseen by PM Modi this January, as a violation of religious scriptures. Who is a Shankaracharya? Shankaracharyas were religious leaders established by Adi Shankara, the 8th century saint from the southern state of Kerala, to spread Hindusim and the philosophy of Advaita (non-duality). To spread the Hindu teachings, he set up four 'peethams' or religious monasteries in different regions of India. Jyotir Math in Uttarakhand is one of them. Shankaracharyas are the spiritual heads of these monasteries. The other three peeths are located in Odisha, Karnataka and Gujarat. Besides Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand, the other leaders of these monasteries are: Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati (Odisha), Shankaracharya Swami Sadanand Saraswati (Gujarat), and Shankaracharya Bharati Teerth (Karnataka). (With inputs from agencies)

Shankaracharya backs Rahul Gandhi on ‘Hindus and violence’ speech in Indian parliament; video goes viral

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Shankaracharya backs Rahul Gandhi on ‘Hindus and violence’ speech in Indian parliament; video goes viral