A violent altercation broke out at a meeting of Akharas regarding land allotment for the upcoming Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj on Thursday. Saints associated with various Akharas clashed, with slaps, kicks, and punches exchanged in front of officers. The incident escalated quickly as tensions rose over the distribution of land for the religious event.
Land Allotment Sparks Conflict Among Akharas
The fight reportedly started between the sadhus of 13 Akharas. They had gathered for a meeting before an inspection of the land allocations. Mahant Rajendra Das of Nirmohi Akhara got into a physical confrontation with another sadhu. Swami Hari Giri Maharaj, General Secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, had to intervene to calm the situation.
The dispute appears to have been fueled by disagreements between two factions of the Akharas. One group began chanting “Har Har Mahadev” during the meeting, which was not well-received by the opposing group, leading to further tensions.
Land Dispute Continues Amidst Tensions
Akhara Parishad President Ravindra Puri confirmed that the dispute was centered around land allotment. “The clash occurred due to disagreements over land distribution for the Maha Kumbh,” he said. Saints from both groups were called to discuss the issue, but the meeting ended in chaos.
The president of Nirmohi Akhara, Rajendra Das, accused Prem Giri from Juna Akhara of assaulting him. He also criticized the Akhara officials for not being given proper seating during previous Kumbh events, leading to further anger among the sadhus. He alleged that the Juna Akhara has a history of creating disputes at such events.
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