Haridwar’s spiritual circles are abuzz as prominent saints voice strong support for Bageshwar Dham’s Dhirendra Shastri amid uproar over his provocative tricolor comment. At a recent event in Banda, Shastri cautioned that a flag adorned with a crescent moon would spell doom for Hindu surnames tied to caste, advocating for religion-based identity over caste loyalties.
Leading the chorus of approval is Mahant Lokesh Das Maharaj of Jagannath Ashram in Rishikesh. In a candid interview, he lambasted caste politics: ‘We’ve been sliced into castes by politicians, unlike the unified Muslim front. Look at Kashi—mere bricks fell from a mosque, and 10,000 rallied. But when Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand was manhandled, where was our outrage?’
Lokesh Das painted a grim picture of disunity’s consequences. ‘Brahmin leaders vanished when needed most. If we splinter by caste, we’ll hand victories to others—even our sacred tricolor could change.’ He positioned Shankaracharyas as vital pillars of Indian heritage, demanding collective defense against any affront.
Adding heft to the narrative, Mahamandaleshwar Hari Chetanand of Big Akhara linked Shastri’s words to Bangladesh’s horrors, where Hindus endure brutal attacks. ‘As an eloquent kathavachak, Shastri speaks with purpose. There’s no flaw in his logic,’ he affirmed.
This alliance of saints signals a pivotal moment. With political vote-banks thriving on caste, their plea for Hindu consolidation challenges entrenched divisions, potentially reshaping discourse on national symbols and communal harmony in turbulent times.