'Will Politicians Sell Golgappas?' Kangana Ranaut's Response To Jyotirmath Shankaracharya Over 'Traitor' Remark

Actor Kangana Ranaut, BJP MP from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi, on Thursday took a veiled jibe at Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath in Uttarakhand, over his comments on Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde. She said that Swami has misused his influence and religious education, and has hurt the sentiments of all by calling Shinde a “traitor” and a “betrayer”.

In a post on X, the BJP MP took a swipe at the Shankaracharya and said that if the politicians would not be indulged in politics, would they be selling golgappas?

“In politics, it is very normal and constitutional to have alliances, treaties and division of a party. The Congress party was divided in 1907 and then again in 1971. If a politician does not do politics, will he sell golgappas?” she said in a post on X.

Ranaut further accused the Shankaracharya of insulting and hurting the sentiments of Hindu religion by making such “petty” remarks.

“Shankaracharya ji has misused his words and his influence and religious education. Religion also says that if the king himself starts exploiting his subjects then treason is the ultimate religion. Shankaracharya Ji has hurt the sentiments of all of us by using derogatory words against our honourable Chief Minister of Maharashtra @mieknathshinde by accusing him of being a traitor and a betrayer. Shankaracharya Ji is insulting the dignity of the Hindu religion by saying such petty and petty things,” she added.

Earlier this week, Swami Avimukteshwaranand met Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai and said that the latter was a “victim of betrayal”. He was referring to Shinde’s rebellion from the Shiv Sena which led to the collapse of Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra in 2022.

“Uddhav Thackeray has been betrayed and many people are anguished by it. I met him today as per his request and told him that people’s pain won’t subside till he becomes the chief minister again,” he told the reporters after meeting Thackeray.

“Betrayal is the biggest sin. The one who betrays can’t be a Hindu. The one who tolerates betrayal is a Hindu. The entire populace of Maharashtra is anguished by the betrayal and this was reflected in the recent (Lok Sabha) elections,” he added.

“We don’t have anything to do with politics, but we are talking about betrayal which is a sin as per religion,” the Shankaracharya added.

Eknath Shinde along with several MLA’s rebelled against Thackeray which led to a spilt in the Bal Thackeray founded party in 2022. Shinde went on to become the chief minister of Maharashtra by forming the government in alliance with the BJP.

The Shankaracharya had been in the headlines for turning down the invitation to the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya earlier this year.